EXPLANATION OF PLATE LXIV, 



Haida Mortuary and Commemorative Columns. 



From photographs by the author and from sketches in the U. S. National Museum. 



Fig. 340. Kaigani Mortuary Column, containing a box holding the ashes of the 

 dead, at the ruins of the abandoned Kaigani village of Chasina, at the 

 entrance to Cholmondeley Sound, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. 



Fig. 341. Kaigani Mortuary column, with compartment boarded up. This con- 

 tains the remains of the dead in a box, and represents a departure from 

 cremation to inhumation, or aerial sepulture, in imitation of the former 

 custoin of thus depositing the cremated remains. At Kasa-an, Prince 

 of Wales Island. Alaska. 



Fig. 342. Kaigani Mortuary Columns (aerial sepulture), supporting a box con- 

 taining the body of the dead. At the partially abandoned village of 

 Kaigani, Dall Island, Alaska. 



Fig. 343. Same as Fig. 340, but sliohtly different in form. 



Fig. 344. Haida Commemorative Column, with sign-board-like attachment at the 

 top. This is imitation of the style of post shown in Fig. 341, and as 

 svich is a survival of, or emblematic of, the former custom of crema- 

 tion. This style of post is erected in front of the hoise of the deceased, 

 while the body is deposited at some distance from it. It is erected to 

 commemorate the dead, as explained in Chapter VII. 



Fig. 345. Haida Commemorative Column, of same type as Fig. 344, but with two 

 columns, in imitation of the type shown in Fig. 343. 



