1922] 



NEWCOMBE, HAIDA TOTEM POLE 



195 



a fine type of Indian as is shown in figure 113. According to their own 

 traditions, they originally erected in front of their homes flat planks on 

 which were displayed their hereditary crests. Often the doorway 

 passed through the center of such a plank. In fact, this type persisted 

 down to the latter part of the last century. A very old specimen of 



Fig. 113. — Haida Indians in ceremonial dress. 



this form of "totem pole" was secured many years ago for the Provin- 

 cial Museum at Victoria, B. C. 



With the coming of the first whites to this Northwest Coast region 

 and the introduction of iron tools, the Haida were able to carve their 

 designs in the round, and the tall, round poles were made possible. It 

 is believed that iron tools were unknown to the inhabitants of the region 

 before the Russians made their appearance in what are now Alaskan 



