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THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



rately carved throughout their length and those of greater girth are more 

 often hollowed out or flattened along the bank for ease of handling. Others 

 are carved with one or more figures at the base and at the top with the inter- 

 vening surface adzed or the natural 

 tree trunk with the branches and bark 

 removed. I believe that when erected 

 all columns were painted in the native 

 colors of red and black and sometimes 

 white but time and the elements have 

 obliterated all traces of color in the 

 older ones. 



It is by means of these carvings 

 that this people without letters, have 

 recorded and preserved their history, 

 which includes their legends of origin, 

 their hero tales, their clan affiliation 

 and particularly such household or 

 family events as are of more than 

 passing interest. The erection of the 

 column usually follows the succession 

 to the head of the family or the build- 

 ing of a new house, and besides honor- 

 ing the memory of the dead it in- 

 creases the importance of the living 

 and reflects glory upon the clan at 

 large. Human and animal figures, one 

 superimposed upon the other, are rep- 

 resented. These are generally in low 

 relief because of the character of the 

 field of ornamentation — which is a 

 tree trunk of moderate diameter and 

 considerable height standing wholly 

 without support. The front and sides 

 of the pole are carved while the back 

 is a solid plane surface which preserves 



Before the advent of Europeans the coast and river tribes were continually carrying on 

 war by means of raids. In one of these a great war party of Haidas ascended the Skeena 

 River and surprised the people of Kishpiyeoux when many of the men were away. They 

 burned the village and took back to their island home many women as slaves. One of 

 these later made her escape in a small canoe and returned to the village. Upon her death 

 a memorial column was raised to her memory. She is represented at the base, and a small 

 Haida canoe suspended across her body illustrates her means of escape. The eagle, her clan 

 emblem, is shown over her head and surmounting the pole. This woman killed her husband 

 and cut off his head before making her escape with her child and originally there were three 

 carved wooden heads in the canoe 



