Douglas Island news., 1904-02-17

Klingats of Alaska. This deficiency IS
 due not to any boorishness or lack of courtesy, but to belief that in this day and country of acquisitiveuess it
 would be thought eccentric" to say
 the least. At Christmas time, however,
 it may be we'll to think this over, for we do give and expect thanks around this festal season.
 To Zachook, Kokesani, T-yah, and their brothers, that which is given away in this world, and that only, con stitutes the possessions of the individ- ual in the world to come. Consequent ly, according to the Klingat teaching and practice-'it is more blessed to give than to receive" It is the donor who profits by the gift, the recipient being under no obligation. It is the latter who confers the favor, by accept ing the present or service. The "pot- lach" is an outcome of this teaching; a giving by wholesale, an auction where there is neither bidding nor buying, where the rich become poor and the poor rich. Here is displayed devotion to an abstract idea to an extent seldom found elsewhere. The Klingat man of wealth has no desire to die rich. And, as the easiest means of preventing this, for which so many strive, he gives away his accumulations.
 4 great feast is prepared, salmon, bearsteaks, flesh of mountain sheep and goat, seal blubber, huckleberries, preserves and fish oil and other choice delicacies to tickle the palates of rela- tives and friends, who are bidden from far and near. Day and night the eat ing and drinking continues, until even the ever hungry dogs are gorged to repletion.
 Then rises the host, and in true post. prandial fashion delivers a speech, in which he recites the glory and valor of his ancestors, compliments in the order Of their rank each guest present and refers to their deeds of honor, not for getting the least or most humble. When the speech and those made in reply are at an end, the giver of the "potlach" turns to the place where are piled the money, furs, blankets, weapons, orna- ments and other property representing his worldly possessions.
 In one case, a few years ago, these representing value, approximately, of ten thousand dollars.
 The fastenings of the nearest bale or package are cut, and first to one guest and then to another, and so on down the line the man hands the contents. When one pile is gone another is broach- ed and the giving continued until each one has had his share, and the host' but short time before the richest, is the poorest man present, possessed only of the clothes he stands in and possibly gun or fishing outfit with which to keep himself and family alive.
 Tskekowani, the world to come, does not conform to the Christian heaven, hell or purgatory, nor yet to the "happy hunting grounds" of the Indians of this country. l. signifies not a place of happiness and content alone, but merely the next world. To it go all, | good and bad. But for those who are good in this world are reserved the positions of ease, honor and plenty, the possession of all they have given away. The wicked here are there condemed to to toll, hardship, slavery, sufferings and the fills that flesh is heir to-"
 That all may see the road to Tskeko- wani it is marked plainly in the sky by , the milky way" which is the snow shoe track of the Klinkat Charoh, Gath kayach, who bears the souls of the dead on his back, Gathkayach, when on earth, was renouned as great fisher of dog salmon.
 A man who is murdered, however, does not go to Tskekomani. Not hay. ing completed his allotted term of life on this earth, his soul must remain in Cutzook (the aurora borealis) until re- born to his mother or some of her fe- male relatives. In his second body he is either very intelligent or of unsound mind. This reincsrnation is so firmly believed that in the instance of Zac- hook. of the Chilkats, his mother per sists in thinking and calling him "broth- er." The young mans uncle was killed by shot in the groin, and on Zachook's body there is birthmark correspond