102 
belongs to several families of the Eagle phratry, in various tribes. It was 
called the Brant (Hleeu’en) by informant Jimmy Williams, who added 
that it was not Hrkyadet’s own crest, but that he adopted it from the family 
of Ksemrhsan, of the Raven phratry, at Gitlarhdamks, who owns it as a 
spirit name f narhnawk ). 
The Mawdzeks — if this ’’eally be the Mawdzeks — is a crest of the 
Larhsail phratry in the lower villages of the Gitksan (page 161). It is more 
likely to be a representation of the “Glass-beak” of Qsel under another 
form. 
The Grizzly-bear, at the bottom, was apparently also borrowed from 
the Wolf crest, as it goes under the name of Legyens — not Medeegem- 
dzawey' aks, as for the Fireweeds.^ We may note, as of distinct significance, 
that this pole is planted next to that of Kseraqaqhl, of the Wolf phratry, 
that it consists of materially the same figures, and besides, is the work of 
the same carver. 
FUNCTION 
Tlie Cormorant pole was erected in memory of Hrkyadet, over forty 
years ago.^ 
CARVER 
It is ascribed to Haku, of the Larhsail phratry, at Kispayaks; and it 
is undoubtedly one of the best carved poles on the whole Skeena river. 
(29) Pole of Wa-iget, at Kisgagas 
Wa-iget is the head of one of the only two Fireweed households in 
Kisgagas, the other being that of Arhmathemwil. He traces his origin 
back to the family of Tseebasa, of Gitwinksilk, on Nass river. But 
Tseebasa’s family consists of two heterogeneous parts,® only one of which 
belongs to the Temlaham group. And we cannot tell from which of these 
two branches issued Wa-igeFs ancestors. 
Wa-iget owns a totem-pole, one of the only two that still stand at 
Kisgagas, at the edge of the canyon. 
DESCRIPTION 
This pole (Plate XIX, figure 6) includes only two carvings; one, at 
the top — now in a state of decay — represents The-dog-of-Mr.-Ross CAuse- 
Mceselaws)] the other, the Blackfish ('Ncerhl), head downwards. 
ORIGIN 
The Blackfish crest is one of the most widely diffused among the three 
Tsimsyan nations, and if diffusion also means age — one of the most ancient. 
It is claimed by Tseebasa, of the Nass, as the principal badge of the two 
*It might be smother represeetation of the Grizzly-bear-woman (Hanarum-medeek), although not remembered 
sm such. 
^We heard a usually well-informed white man state that it was one of the oldest poles in Kispayaks. 
Those under the respective leaderships of Weelarhs and Kwanaes. Weelarhm claims Temlaham as the birth- 
place of his ancestors. 
J 
