It is a precarious undertaking to discuss the characteristics of primitive poetic forms, partly because so little reliable material is available, but partly also on account of the impossibility of obtaining a fair insight into the meaning and value of literary expression without an intimate knowledge of the language and culture in which they have come into being. For this reason I shall base the following remarks principally upon observations of the Kwakiutl tribe, a tribe with whose language and culture I am familiar. It would be unjustifiable to generalize and to claim that the traits that I am going to discuss are characteristic of all primitive literature. On the contrary, as our knowledge of primitive literature expands, individuality of style will certainly be found to prevail. Still it seems likely that features which are analogous to our own literary devices may disclose general tendencies. Emphasis of salient points is used extensively in Kwakiutl prose and song. Stress is most frequently given by repetition. I give a few examples culled from speeches: “Indeed, indeed, true are the words of the song, of my song, sung for you, tribe.”[136] [136] Contributions to the Ethnology of the Kwakiutl, Columbia University Contributions to Anthropology, Vol. 3, p. 194, line 25. “He is a kind chief who is kind, speaking kindly to those who have him for a chief.”[137] [137] Ibid., p. 258, line 24. “Now is finished the song of my chief. Finished is the great one.”[138] [138] Ibid., p. 268, line 25. “Now you will give the name Great-Inviter to Inviter who has come out of her room, her who has been made a princess, her who is all over a princess on account of this that has been done by this chief who has her for a princess.”[139] [139] Ibid., p. 308, line 3. In songs repetitions are much more frequent than in speech. I give a few examples: “Wa, out of the way! Waw haw hawa, Wa, out of the way! Ah, do not in vain ask for mercy, Waw haw hawa! Ah, do not in vain ask for mercy and raise your hands.”[140] [140] Ethnology of the Kwakiutl, Thirty-fifth Annual Report Bur. Am. Ethn., p. 1288. Another example is the following: “I am the only great tree in the world, I the chief: I am the only great tree in the world, I the chief. I am the great chief who vanquishes, Ha, ha, I am the great chief who vanquishes, Ha, ha!”[141] [141] Ibid., p. 1290. Emphasis may be obtained by placing the word to be emphasized at the end of one phrase and by beginning the next phrase with the same word.