48 AIiEXANDEE MACKENZIE ON CEETAIN 



colours of a head-dress of this kind is given among those published by the directors of 

 the Ethnological Department, Berlin Museum, plate I. [No. 131t]. 



The upper part fits on the wearer's head like a cap. Above the forehead is a carving 

 of some crest or device, beaver, bear, eagle, etc. No rule seems to be followed in selecting 

 the device. In this instance the carving represents the beaver ; it being merely a decora- 

 tion according to the fancy of the carver. On either side of the carving there is a row of 

 feathers of the great wood-pecker. Bound round the circlet of the cap at close intervals, 

 are a number of bristles of sea-lion whiskers, while suspended from the back of the 

 head-dress is a train of ermine skins. "When the dancer was ready to go through his or 

 her evolutions, a handful of eagle's down was placed on the top of the cap, being loosely 

 held in position by the upstanding bristles. On every contortion of the body and jerk 

 of the head the flexible sea-lion whiskers permitted a small quantity of the down to 

 escape and float round the dancer's vicinity like snow-flakes. The effect of this was 

 certain to ensure the applause of the spectators, according as the dancer's exertions were 

 vigorous or otherwise. 



On occasion of an arrival whom it was desirable to honour, the settlement of an indi- 

 vidual quarrel, healing a tribal feud, making a treaty of friendship or peace, or celebrating 

 a potlach or " house-warming," an indispensable adjunct to the ceremony was the dance 

 with the Tsilk and Na-lmng and scattering of eagle down. Sometimes a number of 

 persons thus attired performed at once, and the costume was considered quite appropriate 

 for either male or female dancers. 



Sea-lion Whiskers (Haida Kish-kow'-eh). Ermine Skin (Haida Klick). — "Wooden carved 

 device on forehead (Haida Jsil-kwull). 



Specimens of Wooden Masks (Haida Neh-tsung).—[Sos. 1305, 1306, 1309 to 1311 and 

 1318 to 1315]. These masks, grotesque and otherwise, were used at merrymakings per- 

 taining to feasts, house inaugurations and dances. Faces of human or mythological 

 beings, of birds or beasts, were represented by such masks, and no rule seems to have 

 been followed in the matter of selection of subjects, that being according to the fancy or 

 taste of the carver. "Wooden or bone calls were generally used to imitate the cries of the 

 animal represented by the mask. 



Dance Head-dress Carving (Haida Tsil-kwull). — [No. 1312]. This represents a spirit- 

 face seen by the doctors in their trance or reverie. The inlaid border of mother-of-pearl 

 is made from the Abalone shell, brought in early days by trading vessels from California 

 and the Sandwich Islands. Probably in still earlier times from the smaller native Haliotis. 



Tico models of carved Heraldic Columns (Haida Keeang). — One showing the circular 

 aperture through its base which is used as the entrance to the house. [Nos, 1316, 1340.] 



Such poles vary in height from 40 to 60 feet. The object in erecting these poles was 

 to commemorate the event of a chief taking position in the tribe by building a house 

 and making a distribution of all his property, principally blankets, which he had been 

 accumulating and hoarding for years with this view. Keeang is the Haida name of such 

 poles or columns in general application, but each pole has besides an individual and 

 distinguishing name. Thus, for instance, one of the poles at Masset is named Que-tilk- 

 kep-tzoo, which means " a watcher for arrivals," or " looking," or " watching for arrivals." 

 It was erected by a Haida chief, named Slultah, on his decision to build a new lodge. 

 The occasion, as usual, was marked by a large distribution of property, hundreds of 



