VICTORIA, B. C. 11 



ENTRANCE HALL. 



Here we find three Indian totem or heraldic poles. The one on 

 the right of door as you enter is the giant cedar (Thuja gigantea), 

 carved and painted in red and black. Of the three figures repre- 

 sented the upper and principal one is a raven. The middle of the 

 pole was cut away below to provide a doorway for the house in 

 front of which it stood. This is from Bella Bella. 



The next on the right is a totem pole made of giant cedar, carved 

 and painted to represent various figures. This formerly stood at 

 the back of "The house which chiefs peep at from concealment " 

 (feeling their inferiority), at Skidegate, Queen Charlotte Islands. 

 It belonged to the chief " Though younger brother must be obeyed," 

 of the " Rotten House " division of the Eagles of Skidegate, and 

 shows some of his principal crests. The upper figure is a raven with 

 two frogs hanging from its mouth, and below it is the mythical 

 mountain hawk. 



The pole faced the door of the house in front of which, outside, 

 stood the high pole which showed not only the crest of the chief, but 

 also his wife's. At the top are three small male figures wearing 

 high-crowned hats, then comes the raven with dog-fish below it, both 

 eagle crests; and at the bottom is a killer-whale which belonged to 

 the wife, who was of the raven division. 



Then following around the wall, in the next corner, is a heraldic 

 house pole, which formerly stood at the back of " The house so large 

 that people must shout to make themselves heard in it." 



This belonged to Chief Nestakana, of the " Great House " division 

 of the Eagles of Skidegate, Queen Charlotte Islands, and shows two 

 of his crests. 



The upper figure is the raven with its beak broken and bent down, 

 as told in one of the stories of its adventures; and below is a whale. 

 The smaller figures are used to fill up space ornamentally. 



On the high pole at the entrance are also shown two of the chief's 

 crests; the raven above and the dog-fish next. At the bottom is a 

 gri/zly bear, a crest of his wife who belonged to the principal raven 

 family of Skedans. 



