﻿NO. 5 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, ig22 



117 



had totemic columns, but the custom had never spread to the island's 

 western side. To the northward, totem-poles were carved by all the 

 tribes as far north as the Chilkat (a Tlingit group living not far 

 from Haines. Alaska). The Indians to the north and west of them, 



Fig. 1 14. — The degeneratiun of tolemic art uiidci" civili/cd 

 influences. It would be a pity to discuss this wretched 

 thing, except to note that the clever joining of one figure 

 to the next is completely forgotten. The carvings show (at 

 the bottom) the Sun, above that two Beavers, and, at the top, 

 an Eagle. The house behind it is called " Eagle-leg house." 

 The house-posts represent the legs and feet of the eagle. 

 (Photograph by Julius Sternberg, for the Smithsonian 

 Institution.) 



however, knew nothing of such columns. Beyond these lived the 

 Eskimo and Aleut, to whom the whole matter is absolutely foreign. 

 The whole idea of art from which the totem-pole rose, was limited 

 strictly to the coast region. 



