Ill 
The second pole, that of Sqabse’ (Plate XXI, figure 4), is named Gar- 
ment-of-Eagle-people (Gwarhs-skeegyet ) or Hat-people (Kcedem-gyet ). An 
eagle, named Small-eagle (Warhs-skyeek ), used to top the pole.^ Five 
human beings dangled from its claws, the one holding on to the legs of the 
other above, in a chain; Half-of-the-Bear ( Sterawtshem-smaih ) jutting out 
of the pole, near the bottom. 
ORIGIN 
The Bear, which is a distinctive crest of the Prairie clan as a whole, 
appears in the modified form of Half-of-the-Bear and is confined to this 
family. Its origin is accounted for in the Grizzly-bear myth given on page 
109. The reason for its special adaptation here, however, is explained 
thus: a quarrel arose at Gitwinlkul, fairly long ago, between various 
nephews of Malee, over their wives. Love intrigues made it impossible for 
them to live together any longer. Instead of seeking redress in feuds, 
they decided to part and live henceforth in different villages. But they 
wrangled over the possession of the whole Grizzly-bear crest. Finally 
the difference was settled without bloodshed; the Gitwinlkul branch would 
retain the right to use the hindquarters of the bear as a crest, and the 
Kispayaks group the front part. 
The Garment-of-Eagle ( Givarh-skyeek ) is used both as a family crest 
and a personal name. It may have originated as a narhnawk or spirit 
name.^ The account of its mythic origin is circumstantial. In brief, 
it tells how the head of this group at Kispayaks, Hawaao, once gambled 
away his wealth, in the early days. Defeated and impoverished he went 
to live in the forests, and chewed the devil’s club, which was known to 
produce fortitude and exaltation. A supernatural salmon finally came to 
him and its scales turned into copper shields. With these new riches and 
accompanied by his supernatural protector, now changed into a woman, 
his mate, Hawaao returned to Kispayaks, and challenged his adversaries 
to a gambling contest. He defeated them. But they overpowered him, 
glued him to the bottom of a canoe with pitch and cast him adrift down 
the river. He was finally rescued by a strange tribe and adopted by his 
benefactors w'ho had the Eagle-garment as their magical possession, where- 
with they flew in the air and captured sea monsters. Once they hauled 
from under the water a snag on which were carved several crests. Hawaao, 
in the end, returned to Kispayaks in the shape of an Eagle, with the help 
of the magical garment conferred upon him by his relatives. When he 
saw one of his foes walking out of his house, he pounced upon him and 
lifted him in the air; several others ran out and caught one another’s 
feet, in an attempt to rescue him ; but they were all carried away in the air 
by the Eagle and dragged out to the sea, where they were dropped for their 
punishment. After this, Hawaao returned home with his new crest, 
recovered his wealth and his relatives, and gave a great feast, wherein 
he assumed the new name of Gwarh-skyaek and the Eagle crest with human 
beings dangling from its claivs. 
Ut haa fallen off, but the carving ia atill available. 
*It was used as a narhnawk, or personal spirit name, until recently. In the dramatic performances where the 
narhnawk appeared, the performers wore blankets over their heads, and waved their arms under them to repre- 
sent the E^e flying. 
