94 
The presence on a totem pole of a detached spirit mask (narhnawk), 
associated with a personal name and placed on the pole after the death of 
the owner of the name^ may be a unique feature, nowhere else duplicated 
among the Tsimsyan. 
The pictorial representation on the pole of the person to whose memory 
it is dedicated seldom occurs anywhere on the Skeena; those of Kuksde- 
dalreh and of Neetuh of Gitsegyukla, as seen above, are exceptional occur- 
rences. 
FUNCTION 
The first pole, Snag-of-the-sand-bar, was erected in memory of a for- 
mer Ksrarom-larhae (?), of Hagwelawrh and Antkint, three members of the 
family, by the new Ksrarom-larh®, whose name now is Alim-larhse (old 
George Campbell), assisted by all his relatives. 
The second pole was put up “over forty years ago” in memory of 
Kuksdedalreh, by the chief of the household and their kinsmen. 
The third was planted about 1920, in memory of Alim-larhse, of the 
fairly remote Ginarhangeek tribe of Port Simpson, by his distant relative 
Ksrarom-larhae, who in the occurrence himself assumed the name of Alim- 
larhae.^ This occurrence is of an unusual type, poles being erected as a 
rule only to local and immediate relations. 
CARVERS 
The Snag-of-the-sand-bar was carved by Hlamee, of the Larhsail 
phratry (Thomas Derrick)^ of Gitwinlkul, one of the best carvers of his 
day, among the Tsimsyan. 
The Kuksdedalreh pole was the work of William Nass or Brown, 
when he was a young man, living practically as an outlaw at Hagwelget, 
away from his Kitsalas relatives, who were of Nees-halubs household. 
As Brown belongs to the Tsimsyan counterpart of the Fireweed phratry 
(the Gispwudwade), we find here an instance of a pole carved by a phratric 
relative, which is contrary to a universal custom. The imperious require- 
ments of native law on this technical point must have been turned in some 
way, now forgotten — for instance, appointing another nominal carver, 
of a different crest, to take charge of the work. We know this to have 
occurred elsewhere. 
(25) Poles of Harhpegwawtu, at Gitsegyukla 
The family of Harhpegwawtu, whose affiliations have been described,^ 
owns five totem poles at Gitsegyukla, three along the river bank, and two 
new ones in the upper village. 
DESCRIPTION 
The first pole (Plate XVIII, figure 3) erected in the old village shortly 
after the 1871 fire, is the Single-fireweed (Gilhcest); a long shaft without 
any carving. 
‘This name may have been previously in use at Gitsegyukla. 
•Who died about J922, 
*Under the heading of The poles of Ksrarom-larhse. 
