IMPLEMENTS AND WEAPONS OF GEAHAM ISLAND. 51 



inhabits the mountainous interior of G-raham Island. ' In olden times these reindeer 

 were hunted by the Haida and killed with bow and arrow, being highly prized both 

 for meat and skin. " This weapon was the property of the Masset doctor or medicine 

 man, who is still alive but aged. To him it was bequeathed by his predecessor, who 

 died many years ago. It was essentially a weapon of oifence, a regular skull-cracker, 

 similar to the last, and is said to have been used with fatal effect more than once. It is 

 undoubtedly a relic of the times before these natives had intercourse with white men. 



Bone Club (Haida Silz). [No. 1303.] — This club is made from a rib bone of some 

 species of whale and was used as a fish- or seal-killer like the next. 



Carved Wooden Club (Haida Sitz). [No. 12*77.] — This is one of the characteristic fish- 

 killing clubs of the Haida used for knocking halibut, seals, etc., on the head after hook- 

 ing or spearing them. No doubt it also proved a handy weapon in a personal tussle over 

 the spoils of the chase. These carved clubs were invested with supernatural properties. 

 Thus the Haida firmly believe, if overtaken by night at sea and reduced to sleep in 

 their canoes, that by allowing such a club to float beside the canoe attached to a line, it 

 has the property of scaring away whales and other monsters of the deep which might 

 otherwise harm them. 



Bone Dagger (Haida Thl-saga-skwoots.) [No. 1298.] —This was used by the medicine 

 man in one of his imaginary conflicts with some malicious rival spirit doctor. At other 

 times he iised it as a skewer or hair-pin to keep up his long hair when rolled in a knot 

 at the back of his head. On the handle is carved the representation of a land otter, an 

 animal held by medicine men to possess supernatural attributes. 



Twisted Copper Necklet (Haida Hull-ktintz-tig-ah). [No. 1332.]— This rare and valuable 

 relic is the only one of the kind known in the Haida nation. It was prized more highly 

 than any ornament or implement in their possession, and of a certainty was made before 

 the natives were acquainted with white men. Tradition states it was made from native 

 copper brought from Alaska. Capt. Dixon (1788) mentions having seen such a necklet 

 worn by a chief at North Island, and it is believed by old Haida who have been ques- 

 tioned on the subject, that this identical necklet was the one that attracted his attention.' 



As a work of art by untutored savages with rude tools it is remarkable. Though it 

 has three strands it is all in one piece, twisted most systematically and tapering with 

 precision from the centre to each end, all the strands being in perfect uniformity one with 

 the other. Its history and former owners are known for two or three generations, but 

 its origin is not known. It was worn by chiefs as a mark of their importance and de- 

 scended in turn to each successor who was able to make a feast and distribution of pro- 

 perty and take the place of the departed. 



Carved Copper Armlet or Bracelet. [No. 1308.] — This is very old, and is the only copper 

 armlet known in the Haida nation. It has been preserved in the same family for several 

 generations and worn by the chief's wife. Its origin is unknown, but it certainly was 

 made before the Haida saw white people. The mother-of-pearl inlaid work was renewed 



^ See Trans, Royal Soc. Can., vol. viii, section iv, p. 52. 



^ See Marchand's Voyage, chap, v, 1791. 



^ Dixon writes : — " We frequently saw large circular wreaths of copper both at Norfolk Sound and Queen Char- 

 lotte Islands, which did not appear to be of foreign manufacture, but twisted into shape by the natives themselves, 

 to wear as an ornament abuut the neck." " Voyage to the Northwest Coast of America, p. 237." 



