ON THE NORTH-WESTERX TRIBES OF CANADA. 



653 



coalition of several families in one village, each retaining its own name 

 iind organisation. On the other hand, families divided, and are for this 

 reason present in different villages. This is the case with the Sta'stas, 

 whom we find under the name of Sta'stas at Ky'iii'st'a, as Naekun stastaai' 

 in Naeku'n, and as TsiQuagis stastaai' in the same village. The Yak' la'nas 

 are partly in their old village Da'dEns, pai-tly in Tlsuk-oa'n (Klinquan, 

 Alaska); the Ts'atl la'nas are partly in Da'dEns, partly in G"augya'n 

 (How-aguan, Alaska). Part of the Stastas have even drifted to the 

 Stiklnk-oan of the Tlingit. The Yak' la'nas have a branch among the 

 same tribe, where they have amalgamated with the Nanaa'ri family 

 (Haida : Nan'a'ngi). A number of families left Queen Charlotte Islands 

 in consequence of a quarrel, and form now the Kaigani. According to 

 Dr. Dawson the event took place about 170 years ago (about 1730). The 

 following families are said to have emigrated entirely : The S'alE'ndas to 

 Sakoa'n (Shakan) ; the K"'oe'tas to the same place ; the K"aok-e'owai to 

 G -augya'n (How-aguan) ; and the Tas la'nas to Kasaa'n. 



It is clear, therefore, that the present arrangement of families is the 

 result of a long historical development, and that in the orginal organisation 

 of the tribe the village community was a much more important element 

 than it is at present. 



It is also instructive to investigate the distribution of totems among 

 these families. 



Eagle 



Beaver 



Sculpin 



Frog 



Raven 



Dogfish 



Halibut 



Land-otter 



I. Gyit'ina' (18 distinct families). 



. 17 families Starfish . 



Humming-bird 

 Skate (?) . 

 Monster-frog 

 Wa'ts'at . 

 Wasq 



13 

 9 

 5 



3 



o 



1 family 

 1 „ 



Sga ngo 

 Evening sky 



II. 



Killer whale 



Black bear 



Ts'Em'a's . 



Moon 



Woodpecker 



Tsilia'las 



Thunder-bird 



Hawk 



Wolf 



Cirrus cloud 



Dogfish . 



K''oa,'la (22 distinct families). 

 21 families Devilfish 



1 family 



1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 



>> 



This table shows a strong prevalence of two crests in each group : 

 oagle and beaver among the Gyit'ina', killer whale and black bear among 

 the K-'oa'la. The sculpin and ts'Em'a's, which are next in importance, 

 are not found among the tribes of the extreme north-western part of the 

 islands. All the others occur only once or twice among the different 

 families, and for this reason resemble in character the totems of the 



