95 
The second (Plate XVIII, figure 4) is called Decayed-corpse (Lawrom- 
halerh ) or the Moth crest, also owned by Ksrarom-larhae. The bird-like 
being, near the top, is Bird-on-high (Larh^om); the many small figures 
of dead people (eleven in all, in three rows, one row at the top, and two in 
the centre) are called Manj^-small-people, or Many-skulls (Gobegyet or 
Wilwilgyet); at the bottom, Decayed-corpse (Lawrom-balerh), the crest 
appearing above. The bill or projecting nose of Decayed-corpse was broken 
off and lost some years ago. 
The third pole (Plate XVIII, figure 5) bears the name of House- 
front-Blackfish (Qawam’n(Erhl). Its carvings consist of a representation 
of a Blackfish (delphinus orca, or grampus, a variety of whale), at full 
length, head down, and a long fin on its back on which appear a human 
figure at the base and a round perforation above, which are part of this 
emblem. The human figure in the fin is that of Gunarhujesems, a well- 
known mythic character. 
The fourth pole and the accompanying carvings in the upper village 
(Plate XIX, figure 1) are named Where-meet-the-moving-Blackfish 
(Wtndeldel-lugum’ncerhl). It represents (Bird)-on-high, and has two 
attached, horizontal, figures of the Blackfish, with perforated fins. 
The fifth is a plain pole recently erected in the new village, and again 
named Single-fireweed or One-fireweed (Gilhoest). 
ORIGIN 
The Fireweed is said to have been given to this family as a crest by 
Yael (or Bayae), formerly a member of the house of Nees-haiwserhs, of 
Kitsalas, who migrated up the river, was associated for a period with 
Harhpegwawtu at Gitsegyukla, and finally settled at Gitwinlkul. A giant 
Fireweed had previously been seen in a vision by Nees-haiwserhs at the 
head of the Segyukla, and adopted as a family crest (page 87). According 
to another opinion, less orthodox, this crest originated after the deluge, 
when the people had deserted Temlaham. An ancestor named YsA 
cleared the land of tall trees at Kisrawks (People-of-the-Balsam-trees), 
on Skeena river, below Kitwanga. All over the cleared land grew a 
thick patch of fireweeds. They, therefore, named the house, which they 
built up at this place, Graded-house-of-the-Fireweed (Darem-hcest); and 
they adopted the Fireweed as one of their emblems.^ 
The origin of the Blackfish and GunarhnaDsems crests is accounted 
for in an adapted form of a familiar west coast myth. In outline, this 
tradition recounts at great length how a young Temlaham woman once 
mocked at the bears, and for her punishment was abducted by Bears in 
human guise and taken as a bride by one of them. One day she escaped 
and ran away to the seacoast, there to be rescued by Saradeelaw, a human- 
like monster of the edge of the sea, whose magical canoe was made of 
copper. After the pursuing Bears were killed by Saradeelaw, she, herself, 
became the wife of Saradeelaw’s son, whose name was Gunarhnsesems. 
Both husband and wife were then sent back to Temlaham with the magical 
copper canoe, and were welcomed by Harhpegwawtu, the young woman’s 
uncle. When Gunarhnsesems later hunted monsters, he came down to 
*The Tsimsyan of Port Simpson gave a similar explanation, stating that their Gitksan relations use the Fireweed 
as one of their coat-of-arms because the fireweed is characteristic of their country in the summer. 
