365 
like the Sekaiii and Tahltan, their neighbours, and tlie Slave and 
perhaps other Indians in the valley of the Mackenzie^ 
The influence of the coast tribes on the Carrier was not limited 
to the external culture; it permeated the whole fal)ric of the social 
and political life. The po]ndation was divided as usual into nobles, 
commoners, and slaves, but there w^as no “ royal class ” of rulers such 
as. existed among the neighbouring Tsimshian. Slaves, too, were not 
Suniiner canip of a Cairicr family. (Photo hi/ Hinliin I. timith) 
numerous, and, except on the border of the Tsimshian territory, a 
commoner who possessed sufficient energy, and gathered his friends 
to his support, could readily attain the rank of a nobleman by giving 
the requisite potlatches and assuming an appropriate title. The west- 
ern sub-tribes around Stuart, Babine, and Fraser lakes (our informa- 
tion concerning the other Carrier groups is imperfect) were organized 
1(7/. Mackenzie: Op. cit., p. 206. Emmons, G. T. t " Tlie Taliltan Indians”; University of Penn- 
sylvania, the Museum, Aiilhropologic.il l^ublicHtions, vol. iv, No, I, p. 6C. .Mas.son: Op. cit., vol. I, 
p. 91. 
