176 



Inasmuch 



Crests, The 



Potlatch 



Totems 



Four Crests 



The Potlatch 

 Described 



The &quot;crests&quot; of the Haidas introduce us to 

 three of the most remarkable customs of the 

 Indian race; the use of &quot;crests&quot; a custom com 

 mon to the race, the &quot;potlatch&quot; and the erection 

 of &quot;totem poles&quot; and the use of &quot;swan s and 

 eagle down&quot; customs distinctive of the North 

 Pacific tribes. 



&quot;There are four leading crests found among 

 all the Indians on the north-west coast, including 

 the Haidas, Tsimsheans, Nishkas, Kitikshans, 

 Klingit, and other tribes. These are the eagle, 

 the bear, the wolf, and the finback whale. With 

 each of these, other animals, birds, fishes, and 

 emblems are grouped and associated. Thus, 

 with the eagle the beaver is joined; with the wolf 

 the heron is associated; with the bear, the sun, 

 the rainbow, and the owl are connected; whilst 

 with the finback whale, the frog and the raven are 

 represented. These four crests are known by 

 special terms in the various languages of the 

 tribes. Amongst the Haidas, the bear and the 

 eagle clans were the most numerous. This 

 crestal system may be designated as a kind of 

 Indian freemasonry. It is even more com 

 prehensive in its influence and power, as by it the 

 chieftainships are divided and allotted, marriages 

 are arranged and controlled, and distribution of 

 property decided. Indeed the entire social life 

 of the Indians is controlled and regulated by 

 this system.&quot; 



The Handbook of Canadian Indians describes 

 the potlatch as follows: &quot;The great winter 



