107 
grounds at Anarh-gigsenih (Place uppermost)/ wherein is a place in the 
mountains for hunting the groundhog, which place is named In-leaf 
(Lusraycens ). Here they conquered the Weneel monster in a lake, accord- 
ing to some informants.^ While hunting along the mountain side, an 
avalanche of rock imprisoned them in a narrow cave. They had to dig 
themselves out and build a notched ladder (Lademrh-semyip).^ This they 
later assumed as an emblem, together with the mountain itself, Along-lying 
(Wusen-skeehl ), which is symbolized by the Rafters-of-the-house or Wood-of- 
hemlock ( Ranarh-geeuk J, a house which they had built there with rafters on 
which to dry fish and meat. The human beings with groundhogs under their 
arms, above the ladder on the pole, represent the hunting ground of Anarh- 
gigsenih (Place-uppermost), in the midst of which they had met with their 
supernatural experiences. 
FUNCTION 
The oldest of these poles, the Snag-of-the-sand-bar, was erected four 
years after the fire of 1871,^ in memory of Tseegwee.® Mark Weegyet 
had it erected with the assistance of Tseebasae, Sawyemerh, and other 
members of his family. 
In a letter written in 1924, he states that six villages (of the Gitksan) 
helped in securing and erecting it : Gitwinlkul, Kitwanga, Gitsegyukla, 
Hazelton, Hagwelget (a Carrier village), and Kispayaks. They first 
selected a large log 2 miles above Carnaby (9 miles from Gitsegyukla, along 
the Skeena) and hauled it down, the cost for which was $800 to Weegyet's 
family. After two years it was carved, and the carver was paid $400. 
The same tribes again gathered to erect it when it was ready, and the 
expenses on this occasion were $1,600; altogether $2,800. 
The pole of Ladder-in-steps has stood for over forty years® in commem- 
oration of Weegyet. It was erected by his nephew Mark Weegyet."^ 
The Grizzly-bear-of-the-water is also a memorial to the same Weegyet, 
and was erected at the same time as the Ladder-in-steps. 
When Mark Weegyet had the totem pole of the Ladder erected in 
memory of his uncle, it is still remembered by his nephew Tseebasa (Stephen 
Morgan) that he had all the villages around, as far as Kisgagas, invited 
to the festival of commemoration. During the ceremony he stood in 
front of his fellow chiefs and, reciting the traditional narrative (ada-orh) 
of his family, he then explained his crests and gave a description of his 
hunting grounds. Tseebasa added that this was always done, in similar 
circumstances. After the conclusion of the narrative, food and presents 
are distributed to the guests as payment for their services. 
iNear the present Kisgagaa, 50 miles above Hazelton, 
>Isaac T asns (Tseegwee) , of Hazelton. 
*ln the old Indian style. 
*Charles Mark added that it was erected in the same year as the Fireweed pole. 
*Alec Brown stated that it was a memorial to Weegyet. But his information is less dependable here than that 
of Weegyet himself. 
*Alec Brown said "over thirty years”; Charles Mark once said “fifty years”; another time, "thirty-five.” In 
Mark Weegyet’s own opinion, it was forty years — all of which shows the range of personal error. 
^Who died a verv old man, in 1925. 
84628-8i 
