143 
the transitional type. The Eagle at the top is not entirely the original 
one, its head having been replaced by a crude carving by Bob Sampare, 
in 1925. There were only scant evidences of paint left on the pole — that 
is on the eyes, and the eyebrows — when it was restored. 
OTHER POLES 
(47) Pole of Beenee, at Hagwelget 
O WINERS 
The phratries and clans among the Carriers of Hagwelget do not tally 
exactly with those of their western neighbours, the Gitksan. These people 
are of Athapascan extraction, and their remote ancestors were wholly 
nomadic, as are still their northern kinsmen. They have come under 
the influence of the west coast tribes, whose habit is to dwell in villages 
a part of the year, and whose social organization is complex and charac- 
terized by the use of heraldry. These west coast influences were from 
two or three different parts. They can be traced back to the early Tsims- 
yan occupants of the Skeena, the Kw'akiutl south of the Skeena, and per- 
haps more remotely, the Tlingit^ of the Alaskan coast. The organization, 
myths, and customs of the Carriers of Hagwelget are for that reason to a 
certain extent at variance with those of the modern Gitksan, in spite of a 
marked tendency to synchronize both systems for practical purposes — 
such as marriage and inheritance between people of mixed extraction. 
Beenee and his relatives formerly belonged to the Tsayu clan of the 
Hagwelget people, of which Beenee was the head. This clan became 
practically extinct, less than a hundred years ago. It was decided to 
amalgamate, it with the Larhtsamesyuh clan or phratry, and Beenee 
became the second chief of the new group. Beenee’s family as now con- 
stituted combines elements that belong to two different phratries among 
the Gitksan, in particular; the Owl and the Fireweed, of the Fireweed 
phratry; the Eagle (Sqee, of the Hagwelget, and Hrhskycek, of the Gitksan) 
and the Beaver, of the Eagle phratry. 
Beenee owns a totem pole, which still stands near the smoke houses 
at the canyon of Hagwelget. 
DESCRIPTION” 
This pole (Plate XXIX, figure 4) is known under the name of Single- 
fireweed (Geelas or Cilhccst, a Tsimsyan word). It consists of a plain, 
uncarved log, about 50 feet high.® At the top stands a bird with wings 
spread out, as if it had just landed. Opinions differ as to the identity of 
this crest, whether it is the Grouse ( Gildzaat } or the Eagle ( Sqee ). Bee- 
nee’s Beaver crest formerly was also part of this pole, but was taken off 
and placed on his grave, near the village, east of the canyon. 
iProbably through the Tahlten and Sekanais of the Groundhog country and the Yukon. 
’Part of the above and following infornaation was obtained by Diamond Jenness among tho Hagwelget people, 
in 1922. 
’It is called Single-fireweed for that reason. 
