78 



Tin: .\Mi:iuf'.\x .i/r.s/.r.i/ jocnxAf. 



passage, Imt ;irc to he t'omid in rcinotf \ ilhi^ics tar up sonic nf the im^nity 

 rivers of tlic Xoi'tli Pacific (Oast. 



Totem poles are earxcd troin cedar. On this rainy toggy coast which is 

 never very hot in snniincr nor hitter cold in winter, the forests are noted for 

 thcii- gigantic ccdai's. 'I'lic Indians here arc prci'niincntly a woodworking 

 people; they have heconie cie\er in the arts of sj)litting, bending, splicing, 

 carving and inlaying. The house is made from split cedar planks on a 

 framework of adzed cedar logs. The canoe is dug out of a huge cedar trunk. 

 Much of the clothing is made l)y weaving shredded cedar hark. Spear 

 handles are whittled out of cedar wood while the nuisks u.sed in the cere- 

 monies are also often carxcd from cedar. 



The carvings on the poles most often represent animals, among those 

 conunonly shown being the l)eaver, bear, raven, frog, finback whale and 

 squid. Mythical monsters are also rejiresented, while the Iniinaii face and 

 figure are common. Sometimes the car\'ed figure of a man forms the top 



THE TOTEM POLES STAND IN A ROW FACING THE SEA 



Skifk'giUe, Queen Charlotte I.slands 



