58 
the two. They were carved in strict conventional style, were not painted 
(with the possible exception of a few touches of colour for the eyes, the 
nostrils, and the lips), and do not count among the best carvings of the 
Gitksan. 
(10) Pole of Ma’us, at Kispayaks 
OWNERS 
The families of Ma’us^ and Arhkawt, of Kispayaks, originated as a 
subdivision of that of Kaldihgyet (or Lutkudzeeus), of Gitenmaks (See 
page 56). They belong to the same clan, which is closely allied to the 
Tongue-licked (Nseqt) clan. The household of Arhkawt entered into its 
separate existence as a subdivision of that of Ma’us slightly over thirty 
years ago; but it remains under the leadership of Ma'us. Both these 
Kispayaks families, as well as that of Kaldihgyet, of Gitenmaks (now 
Hazelton), claim that their origin goes back to Temlaham, on the Skeena; 
but that they separated while they still lived in that ancient village. They 
share in the same traditions (ada-orh). There is no mention, in their 
accounts, of a genetic connexion with Nseqt or the Tongue-licked clan, and 
several of their crests differ. We may presume, therefore, that they are 
not Nseqt’s direct descendants, but only lateral relations. Their crest 
of Person-of-the-smoke-hole, besides, indicates that they are related to the 
Wild-rice clan, of the headwaters of the Skeena, among the foremost 
representatives of which are Ramlarhyaelk and Lurhawn, of Gitwinlkul. 
Ma’us owns a single totem pole, which is the third in the rear row, 
at its southern end, towards Kispayaks river. 
DESCRIPTION 
This totem pole (Plate IX, figure 4) is called Frog-pole (Kanem- 
ranaa^o). Its figures are: the Raven (Qaq) which formerly sat on top of 
the totem pole^; a section of 7 or 8 feet uncarved; Person-of-the-Smoke- 
hole (Gycedem-almh) or Man-looking-down-the-smoke-hole, in the roof; 
the Frog or Tadpole (Ranaa^o) head downwards; Woodpecker (Semgyeek ) 
or Real-woodpecker;^ Man-of-the-smoke-hole, repeated; and the Frogs- 
jammed-up or squeezed (*Meetsehl-ranaa’o ) one, above, looking down, the 
other, in the centre, turned sideways, to the left, and the third, at the 
bottom, looking upwards. 
ORIGIN 
The crest of Person-of-the-Smoke-hole was not fully explained; and 
it seems that its origin is not the object of a myth. We may assume, there- 
fore, that it was first used as a narhnawk or a spirit in the form of a carving 
used in dramatic representations in the winter festivals. It is described 
^Now Jacob Molson of Kispayaks. 
*It has fallen off and disappeared. 
*In the sense of high or noble. An informant, Richard Morrison, of the family of Arhkawt, called it "Eagle." 
This very crest is tattooed on his chest. The radical for Woodpecker and Eagle bears a close resemblance: Semg* 
yeek (Woodpecker) and Hrs-kyaek (Eagle). This may be a source of ambiguity. The carving itself is a con- 
ventional representation of the Woodpecker with a long, straight, pointed beak. 
