EXPLANATION OF PLATE XLIX. 



Haida Slate-carving, representing the "Bear-mother." 



Fig. 263&. This specimen is also shown in Plates XL VII and L. The legend is 

 given in Chaj)ter V, under the subject of bears. The Haida version of 

 it is as follows: 



A number of Indian squaws were in the woods gathering berries when 

 one of them, the daughter of a chief, spoke in terms of ridicule of the 

 whole bear species. The bears descended on them and killed all but 

 the chief's daughter, whom the king of the bears took to wife. She 

 bore him a child half human and half bear. The carving represents 

 the agony of the mother in suckling this rough and uncouth offspring. 

 One day a party of Indian bear hunters discovered her up a tree and 

 were about to kill her, thinking her a bear, but she made them under- 

 stand that she was human. They took her home and she afterwards 

 became the progenitor of all Indians belonging to the bear totem. 

 They believe that bears are men transformed for the time being. This 

 carving was made by Skaows-ke'ay, a Haida. Cat. No. 73117, U. S. N. 

 M. Skidegate village, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. 

 Collected by James G. Swan. 



