In front or at the side of each house stood a number of small poles, ten or twelve feet high, which indicated the number of potlatches or great feasts that the dead man had given, each pole standing for a potlatch.
But I suppose as a matter of fact, instead of giving it to the poor, these men who give these potlatches try to give to the rich instead, so that they may receive their gifts back again.
One of the ways in which individuals maintained their social position was by giving away quantities of goods of all kinds at the potlatches which they organized.
These potlatches were social as well as industrial functions, and dancing and singing were interspersed with the feasting.
At the potlatches the children of chiefs were initiated into secret societies.
At subsequent potlatches he received in his turn a measure of their goods in proportion to his own gifts, so that he was sometimes richer than before.
The potlatches were of different kinds, although all partook of the nature of a feasting or merrymaking and were distinguished by the giving of gifts.
They quarrelled bitterly over their rank for a long time, Nin-Ging-Wash, by means of his more liberal potlatches finally prevailing, but not until two of their adherants had been killed.
The greatest potlatches are given by the chiefs, either for the purpose of obtaining or retaining the chieftaincy.
The wealth of a Thlinkit is estimated according to his number of blankets; his honor and importance by the number of potlatches he has given.
Great potlatches were held there, and the chief's lodge was as notable as was the "Old-Man House" of Chief Seattle.
Gorgeous potlatches are held here; and until the spring of 1908 these orgies were rendered more repulsive by the sale of young girls.
The above list will hopefully give you a few useful examples demonstrating the appropriate usage of "potlatches" in a variety of sentences. We hope that you will now be able to make sentences using this word.
