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SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 78 



where is the soil deep enough for the plow. The work of smooth 

 finishing and assembling of timbers is undertaken at the site of the 

 house to be erected. 



Fig. 183. — Rear corner post of " More-back 

 House " which was erected by Chief Skaul. The 

 carved figures at top and bottom represent the 

 bear, a crest often used by members of the 

 Raven clan. At Kasaan, the raven crest was 

 the vogue with adherents of the Eagle clan who 

 lived for the most part in the western half of 

 the village. The carved figure at the center of 

 the post has to do with the adventures of Raven 

 and the moon. See fig. 182. 



Erection of a totem pole or a house was the occasion for much 

 feasting and jollification by the Indians, calling to mind those social 

 gatherings which attended barn raisings in colonial days in the United 

 States. The day of the erection of the house was made known to the 

 natives of neighboring villages sometimes months in advance. All 



