59 
here as “a man looking down the smoke-hole, on the roof of the house.” 
It is also the property, as an emblem, of Ramlarhyaelk, the head-chief of 
the Larhsail phratry in Gitwinlkul- Here, however, it was known under 
a slightly different name, that of People-of-the-Smoke-hole (Gycedem- 
ranaloB ), and “it consisted sometimes of four carvings with human features 
at each corner of the smoke-hole.” It also appears on a totem pole of the 
same chief, at Gitwinlkul. This common ownership of the same crest 
may point to a genetic relationship between Ma’us and Ramlarhyaelk. 
The Woodpecker (Semgyeek) crest is also used by Kaldihgyet, of 
Gitenmaks (Hazelton), sometimes under the name of Ha’tu. As the 
family of Ma’us originated as a subdivision of that of Kaldihgyet, the crest 
is undoubtedly the same. As may be seen on (page 57, it was first 
used as a narhnawk or a carving representing a spirit, to be used in the 
winter festivals.^ 
The Frogs or Frogs-jammed-up C Meetsehl-ranaa' o ) are apparently 
the oldest emblems in this family, and it is said that “it came from Temla- 
ham, when the people moved away.” Under this special form, however, 
it is believed to have been obtained from Kweenu, a Larhsail chief of Git- 
winlkul. “It came originally from Temlaham,^ and belonged to the family 
of Kweenu (now of Gitwinlkul). It was a Frog squatting across the door- 
way of the house; there was a stick across its back, showing that it had 
been jammed or squeezed.” 
FUNCTION AND CARVER 
This pole was erected, from 45 to 55 years ago, in commemoration of a 
chief of the name of Ma’us; its erection was brought about by his successor 
of the same name, whose English name was Charles Wilson. The carver 
was Wawsemlarha}, of the Fireweed phratry and of the same village.® 
His work as seen in several poles at Kispayaks and Hazelton, is not of the 
best; but it is typical of the art of the Gitksan. It retains, here particularly, 
some characteristics of the early stages in the growth of totem pole art. 
The figures seem affixed to the surface of the pole as if by pegs, and they 
still retain the appearance of masks and semi-detached carvings, placed 
on the pole side by side, but unrelated to each other. 
(11) Poles of Ramlarhyaelk, at Gitwinlkul 
OWNERS 
Ramlarhyaelk and Lurhawn are two of the leading chiefs of the Larhsail 
phratry in Gitwinlkul. They are close relatives, claiming the same remote 
origin, though their families have lived independently, side by side, from 
time immemorial. They originally belonged to the Wild-rice^ tribe 
( GiVanrasrh ) at the headwaters of the Skeena, in what is now called the 
Groundhog country — on the interior plateaus. Their village was named 
Ut may be noted that the Real-woodpecker {.Semgyisk) is used by Lurhawn, a Larhsail chief of Gitwinlkul . 
as one of his outstanding crests (p. 65). 
•According to Kwiyaihl, of the Fireweed phratry at Kispayaks (John Brown). 
•Wawsemlarlite (Robison) died a very old man about 1923, at Hazelton. 
♦Not the wild rice of eastern Canada, but Fritillazia kamtsckalcensia. 
84628— 5i 
