THE WEST SHORE.
253
of which is the full length figure of a nude Indian, which
represents the Skana of the Haidas. Casual observers
without inquiry, will at once pronounce it to be Jonah in
the fish's belly, but the allegory is of nnoient origin, fnr
ante-dating the advent of the white man or the teachings
of the missionary.
Figure 4 represents the raven and the fisherman.
Hooyeh, the raven, had the mischievous propensity of
descending into the ocean and investigating tho fishing
lines of Houskana, the fisherman, and stealing loth bait
and fish. At last Houskana, tired of this work, put on a
magio hook to ascertain who his enemy was at tho bottom
of the sea. The raven was caught, and when the fisher
man hauled in his line the raven resisted by pressing his
feet and wings against the bottom of the fisherman's
canoe. But Houskana was the strongest and pulled the
raven's beak entirely off, and seizing the raven took him
ashore to find out who he was, for ns soon as his beak was
pulled off he changed to a man, covering his head with
his skin mantle so that nothing but his eyes could be
seen. The fisherman tried in vain to make him uncover
his face. At last one of the young men took a handful
of filth and rubbed it in the raven's eyes. This made
him throw off his mantle, and then they saw that it was
the Hooyeh. This made the raven so angry that, in
revenge for the indignity, the raven and his friends, the
crows (Kaltzda), have ever since annoyed the Indians by
soiling their canoes with their filthy droppings and eating
all their fish.
Figure 5 is the " Man in the Moon." Koong, tho moon,
discovered Eethlinga, the man, about to dip his buckot in
the brook for water, so it sont down its arms or rays and
grabbed the man, who, to save himself, seized hold of a
big salal bush (Gaultharia shallon), but the moon being
more powerful took man and bucket and bush up to itslf,
where they have ever since lived and can bo seen every
full moon when the weather is clear. The man is a
friend of T'kul, the spirit of the winds, and at the
proper signal empties his bucket, causing rain upon the
earth.
These five allegorical sketches were drawn in india ink
by Johnny Kit Elswa, who explained to me their meaning
as I have given it above.
Figure 6 shows a spoon, which is a vory common
household implement It is made from the horn of the
mountain goat Aplocerus Montana which is found in
the mountainous regions of Alaska and British Columbia.
Some of these Bpoons are elalxtnitely carved and bring
high prices from tourists to Victoria, and the samo re
mark will apply to the silver bracelets, finger rings and
ear ornaments made by the southern tribes. Even their
food dishes are carved to resemble a totem or family coat
of arms, and some of this work is looutif ully executed.
Figure 7 is that of a peculiar rattle, and represent
the raven, the tail being the handle. On the belly is
coned the sparrowhawk; on the back is an Indian with a
frog, and, generally, a bird's heal The Indian is a
mythological personago, called by the llaidas " Ka-ka-hete."
lie was demon who lived in the mountains and
was once traveling in his conoo, when he was capsized
and nearly drowned. He swam ashore and ran into the
woods for shelter, and would occasionally descend to tho
village nnd steal children, which ho took into tho woods
and ato. The frog is supposed to jhwhcsb a subtle ison
in its head, and when tho medicine men wmli to work bad
hic11b they eat a frog's head Tho carving represents
Ka-ka-heto sucking tho poison from tho frog's tongue.
Tho Ka-ka-heto afterwards turucd-into a land otter. This
peculiar form of rattlo is used in all the northern tribes,
nnd the explanation given varies with tho different local
itios, but has a general significance.
Figure 8 shows ono of the numerous styles of carved
woixlon combs. Theso implements nro quite fanciful,
but aro simply Bcratchors, illy adapted for the removal of
dirt or vermin. In respect to combs the Indians who
have come tho most in contact with tho whites havo
learned to appreciate the HUerior practical utility of tho
civilized product, and theso native implements are only
found in use among tho older persons living in tho more
remote villages.
Figure 0 represents a halibut hook which is used by
the northern tribes, nnd is a very clumsy nfTair when
compared with hooks made by the Makahs of Cno Flat
tery. They aro, however, very effective, and itninnnse
quantities of fish nro annually taken with them and cured
by the Indians for food. Fish constitute one of tho
most important articles of diet for nil the const triltes,
and they take much interest in fishing; bnt as a general
thing they prefer their ancient implements to tho morn
modern stylos of civilized nations.
Figure 10 is interesting ns illustrative of tho grim
humor of an Indian in trying to lo avenged for what ho
considered an net of injustice n numlcr of years ngo,
Bear Skin, a somewhat noted Haidn chief, Isdonging to
Skidegate village, Queen Charlotte Islands, was in Vic
toria, when for somo offense ho was fined nnd imprisoned
by Judge Femlerton, the olico magistrate. Dear Hkin
felt very much insulted, nnd in order to get even with the
magistrate he carved the two figures, which nro said to be
gcxxl likenesses of tho Judge, who in this dual capacity
mounts guard nt each corner of tho front of the chiefs
rosidonco. The gigantic face on the front of the house and
the two bears on the two mortuary columns seem to Ito
grinning with fiendish delight, while tho raven on top of
one of the columns has cocked his eye so ns to hnvo a
fair look nt the efllgies leiieiith him. Bear Hkin is dead,
but the images still remain. It has been suggwUxl that
they lie removed to Victoria nnd m placed over the
entrance to tho x.lieo barracks, to keep watch nnd ward
like Clog and Mr.gog at the gates of entrance to old
London city.
Figure 11 is a heraldic column nnd picturegrnph which
I sketched at Kioosta village on (Indium Island, at Tarry
Passage, Queen Charlotte group. Tho totem nt the top
is the hooyeh or raven, sitting on a fissure on tho top of
the column. This represent the rnvon's uncle, Kngs,
with whom ho hod a quarrel and lit down on top of his
head with inch force that be split it open. Under the