s 8 ALEXANBBE MACKENZIE ON CERTAIN 



hold, and each time as he put his foot ou a jaw to raise himself up, the jaw closed 

 sharply, making a noise as the upper and lower teeth met. 



At length he reached the realms above, where he was hospitably entertained by the 

 chief of the spirit-land. He saw his eldest brother and his sister's son, who told him not 

 to mourn for them, for they were very happy and well off where they were. 



"When he was ready to descend to earth again, the chief of the spirit-land told him 

 that if he now killed a man on earth the spirit of the deceased could easily find its way 

 to the spirit-laud, as he (the young man) had made a path with steps of human heads to 

 reach it. The young man then safely descended to the earth. 



Here the story suddenly ceases. Stories such as this were very popular amongst 

 the Haida. They seem to have no moral to inculcate or point to illustrate, but are 

 apparently related merely for pastime and are often most incongruous and contra- 

 dictory. 



Tliunder (Eelung) is said to be caused by a large bird " Eelung " flapping its wings. 

 This bird, of immense dimensions, lives on whales, which it catches iu its talons made of 

 copper. It fli'S away with a whale into space, and conceals itself in a dark cloud. Light- 

 ning is caused by the eyes of the bird oi^ening and shutting. Eelung is said to have had 

 / two helpers, a man and a woman, spirit-people who assisted in whale catching. 



The G-reek cross (-f Scalim) was used to mark tlie skius of animals, such as bear, 

 otter, etc., after they were stretched and dried, for the purpose of propitiating the spirit 

 of the dead animal. Four crosses were used in a line down the middle of the back 

 on the flesh side, and the color of the crosses was invariably red. The custom is still 

 practised. This symbol was not used in any other way. 



Certain clouds occasionally seen in the western horizon are termed Qi/oir. It is said 

 qyow clc>uds indicate good weather. These clouds have the form of a T and the base-line of 

 the T is supposed to represent the horizon. Spirit people are said to inhabit the region 

 of the qyow. An old medicine man saw the place in a vision. These spirit-people's 

 heads were elongated on each side like the upper end of the T. They were called Qyow 

 people. 



There were no prescribed stages or degrees in the initiation of a medicine-man. 

 (Haida Sah-gah.) The aspirant to that office was instructed by another medicine-man, 

 generally his uncle, to whom he succeeded, and on his aptitude to learn the system did 

 the length of his probation depend. 



An old doctor says that there are a great many spirit doctors, who assist the medicine 

 man by advice, and whom the medicine-men continually see in visions. There is, 

 however, one spirit doctor pre-eminent above all the rest He is known by two different 

 names Kon'-cuU-at and Yee-kan-eek. 



I can find no meaning attached to these names. Haida doctors never used the drum 

 by way of divination, nor did they employ passes or signs among themselves. Their great 

 aim was to avoid meeting, as they professed to be afraid of each other, and the custom 

 was for each doctor to magnify himself and traduce his rival. They professed to fight iu 

 visions. When the doctor exorcised a spirit of divination or conjuration, he uttered words 

 and language which neither he himself nor others understood. This unknown speech 

 was prompted by the spirit medicine-man who attended on him. 



The Haida never believed in the transmigration of souls, that is to say, the soul of a 



