ON THE NORTH-WESTERN TRIBES OF CANADA. 571 



considered a separate tribe, and whose dialect is intermediate between the 

 Nisk-a' and the Gyitkshan. They have two clans : the K-anha'da and 

 Laqkyebo'. 



' Chief Mountain ' gave me the following subdivisions of the Gyikshan ; 

 the list is, however, incomplete : — 



I. Gyitwung'a', 



Raven : K'anha'da. 

 Eagle : Laqski'yek. 



II. Gyitsigyu'ktla. 



Raven : K'anha'da. 

 Bear : Gyisg-'a'hast, 



III. Gyispayo'kc. 



Raven : K'anha'da. 

 Wolf : Laqkyebo.' 



IV. Gyit'anma'kys. 



The subdivisions of a clan cannot intermarry with the main clan or 

 with any other of its subdivisions. The people form four exogamic 

 groups only : Raven, Wolf, Eagle, and Bear. Of these the Bear is con- 

 sidered the noblest clan, because it derives its origin from Heaven. 



In all festivals the totems of the clan play an important part. Carv- 

 ings representing the totem are worn as masks or head-dresses ; they are 

 painted or carved on houses and utensils, and on memorial columns and 

 totem poles. In all initiations an artificial totem animal brings back the 

 novice. I made particular inquiries regarding the meaning of masks and 

 carvings, and the modes of their use. I shall next give what new informa- 

 tion I obtained on these points. 



When the Gyituk-'adok- branch of the K-anha'da have a potlach, 

 thi'ee masks make their appearance, one of which has a moustache and 

 represents a young man named Gyitgoo'yim, while the other two are 

 called Ca'ca. They represent the following tradition. While the people 

 were staying at the fishing village Gulgye'utl, the boys under the leader- 

 ship of a young man named Gyitgod'yim made a small house in the 

 woods behind the town. They took a spring salmon along and played 

 with it until it was rotten. They caught small fish in the creek and 

 split and dried them. They made small drums and began to sing and 

 to dance. For four days they stayed there, dancing all the time. Then 

 they became supernatural beings. Gyitgoo'yim's hair had turned into 

 crystal and copper. The people were about to move to another camp, 

 and went to the place where they heard the boys singing. 



i=, 



r-3- rr-i 1 — I — 1~^ 1 — ' =~rr 



I 



Drum j J J J J J .tc. 



Kiii yiii vvu lit yi li'qtl k-e - cEmo k'a 



