61 
is, a human face with arms below, on both sides—Person-of-the-smoke- 
hole — and under it a small Eagle f Mawdzeks ) with two wings folded in the 
usual position; a human being squatting down, presumably Person-of-the- 
Smoke-hole, with a twisted cedar -bark headdress;^ the Eagle (Mawdzeks)^ 
a large bird-figure at the bottom. 
The third pole and the tallest (Plate X, figure 3) is called Sleeping- 
place-of-the-Raven (Haneelahl-qaq). It is one of the tallest poles in exist- 
ence — presumably over 60 feet high. It includes fourteen heraldic designs. 
Its figures are: Sleeping-place-of-the-Raven (Gitksan name above), with 
three Ravens perched on a short crossbar, the central one larger than the 
two others; a copper shield attached to the right side of the pole, under the 
Ravens, to indicate Ramlarhyselk’s wealth; a small human being standing 
erect, with apparently three faces, one in front and the two others on each 
side of the head, these probably represent the family crest, People-of-the 
smoke-hole;^ a human figure for the People-of-the-smoke-hole or People- 
of-the-ladder; the Eagle (Mawdzeks )\ two concave notches in the pole, one 
above the other, representing the Ladder (Ranmrhs or Laademerhs), a 
family crest;® a third human figure, People-of-the ladder or Person-of-the- 
smoke-hole; the Frog (Ranaa^o) with head down — more precisely the Door- 
frog or Partition-frog (Ptawrom-ranaa’o or Wa’awt7i~ranaa’o), which repre- 
sents a very heavy, old-fashioned door hanging from the top; Headdress-of- 
upper-river (Raidejn-rhkeegyoenec), a ceremonial headgear, here represented 
as a ring of twisted cedar-bark with four cedar-bark cylinders resting on it 
side by side;^ a fourth human figure represents People-of-the-ladcler; a 
second Eagle (Mawdzeks); a second Door-frog, head down; and the 
Kingfisher or Real-kingfisher (Sem-gycek or Hee-semgyoek ), at the bottom. 
ORIGIN 
Nine crests appear on Ramlarhyselk’s three poles. A few of these are 
repeated several times, particularly People-of-the-smoke-hole or People- 
of-the-ladder. INIost of these crests illustrate episodes in the lives of the 
ancestors while they still were Tsetsaut among the nomadic tribes of the 
interior; thus they are not shared by any of the other Gitksan clans. These 
are: People-of-the-smoke-hole or Real-people-of-the-ladder, Boards-of-the- 
smoke-hole, Headdress-of-upper-river. The smoke hole and the notch 
ladder here are not of the North West Coast type, but belong to the semi- 
subterranean lodges of the nomadic tribes of the interior.® The Real- 
kingfisher is also used exclusively by the members of the Gitwinlkul 
clan. The Eagle (Mawdzeks) and the Frog crests are shared by 
some of the other clans within the Larhsail phratry, although with 
different particulars; the Frog here is a Door-frog, and the Eagle (Mawd~ 
zeks) is part of the Boards-of-the-smoke-hole. On-sleeps-the-raven, ac- 
cording to traditional narratives, would be the most ancient, and it is 
northern in character. 
‘A ring of twisted cedar-bark as is used in the secret society Or fraternity ceremonials on the North West Coast. 
The end of this ring, over the oars, consists of a curl. 
•Its characterization may have been influenced by the crests of Wilwilgyet or Hrpugwelawn (Three-faces) 
of another Gitwinlkul family of the same phratry, that of Wutarhay®ts. 
•This ladder was the one that Tsetsaut’s ancestors climbed to go out of their subterranean lodges. 
•This seems to be a variant of the theme of the Cylinder-hat (Lianemrai) , which Lurhawn owns as a crest. 
‘Round lodges, half sunk underground, with dome roofs, and the entrance through the roof; a log with deep 
notches served as a ladder. The Ixiards wore, we presume, used as a rim or movable cover for the entrance. 
