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THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



At the level of this upper platform, 

 firmly imbedded in the ground, equi- 

 distant from the sides and nearer the 

 front than the back wall, were four verti- 

 cal elaborately carved posts or "gars," 

 nine feet three inches high and two feet 

 six inches wide, which supported the 

 roof structure. 



The carved interior post to the right 

 of the doorway entering was known as 

 Gonakatate-Gars and told a story of 

 Yehlh, the Raven. 



Gonakatate was believed to be a great sea 

 monster, half animal and half fish, variously 

 represented according to the imagination of 

 the artist, but generallj' shown with fore feet, 

 a characteristic dorsal fin, and the tail of a 

 fish. 



The principal figure (see color plate) 

 extending from near the top to the bottom 

 of the post, represents this monster holding a 

 whale by the flipper with the tail in its mouth 

 and the head between the hind feet, for the 

 Gonakatate is beheved to capture and eat 

 whales. The figure of a woman on the back 

 of the whale is called Stah-ka-dee-Shawut, a 

 family name which serves to mark the 

 locality. 



In the blowhole of the whale is the head of 

 the Raven, the significant feature of the whole 

 carving. 



The story of the Gonakatate-Gars is as 

 follows: — -During the wanderings of Yehlh, 

 the Raven, along the coast of Alaska, he saw 

 a whale blowing far out to sea. He had 

 neither spear nor line; only his fire bag of 

 flint and stone and tinder, so when it came up 

 to hreathe he flew into the blowhole of the 

 whale and made a fire in its stomach that soon 

 killed it. When the whale floated ashore, the 

 blowhole had partly closed and he could only 

 get his head out. He therefore began to sing 

 in a loud voice, which brought all the villagers 

 to the scene, and when they cut open the 

 blowhole the raven flew out. 



When the people had cut up the whale and 

 tried out the blubber into grease, the Raven 

 returned in human form and asked them how 

 they got the whale, and if they had heard 

 singing within, for he told them that long 

 ago this had happened in his country and all 

 of those who ate the grease had died. This 

 so frightened the people that they left the 



grease boxes on the shore and returned to the 

 village, when the Raven sat down and ate 

 all the grease they had prepared. 



The carved interior post, to the left 

 of the doorway entering, (see color plate) 

 was named Duck-toolh-Gars, and illus- 

 trates a hero tale of the family that 

 occurred before their northern migration. 



The human figure represents Duck-toolh 

 tearing the sea lion in two. The head at the 

 base symbolizes the rock island on which the 

 sea lion hauled, when this incident took place. 

 The head of Duck-toolh is wrapped around 

 with sea lion intestines and is ornamented 

 with human hair hanging down over the face. 

 The sea lion forms the central figure; the 

 protruding tongue indicates death, as the 

 body is spHt in half. The fore flippers are 

 parallel with the body, under the man's 

 forearms, and the back flippers rest on his 

 shoulders. 



The villagers depended largely upon the 

 flesh of the sea Hon for food, its hide was used 

 for armor and other economic purposes, while 

 the whisker bristles were greatly jirized for 

 the crown of the ceremonial headdress. 



These animals were found in great numbers 

 on a rocky island far to seaward, but the 

 ocean passage in the frail canoes was very 

 dangerous and with primitive spears and clubs 

 it took courage and strength to succeed in the 

 hunt, and so the people prepared themselves 

 for the undertaking by much exercise, and 

 hardened their bodies by sea bathing in the 

 early morning throughout the winter. But 

 Duck-toolh seemingly practised none of 

 these things, he slept late and although of 

 great size was looked upon as lazy and weak 

 until he became the laughing stock even of 

 the children. But he was only shamming, 

 and after the others had gone to bed he bathed 

 and exercised alone. One night a heavily- 

 built man arose out of the sea, and wrestling 

 with Duck-toolh, imparted to him his own 

 strength. Next day Duck-toolh went hunt- 

 ing sea lions with Kash-ka-di, who boasted 

 of his strength and what he would do and 

 ridiculed Duck-toolh. 



When they reached the rocks Kash-ka-di 

 jumped out and grabbing a great sea Uon by 

 its hind flippers tried to tear it in two, but 

 he was thrown high in the air and killed on 

 the rocks. Then Duck-toolh laughed and 

 grabbed the sea lion and tore it apart, beat 



