149 
Weemenawzek, a Larhsail chief, formerly of Qaldo, but lately of Kisgagas,* had his 
Tsih-yarhyaq crest — a man with feet up and head down — painted on his house front and 
carved on what was described as "a fine pole.” His Frog crest was also painted and carved. 
Two of Ksemgitgeegyaenih’s crests (this chief also belongs to the Larhsail phratry) 
were also painted on his house and carved on a totem-pole'* the Eagle (Xrhsxycek ); and the 
Hrpugweelawn — three hmnan beings represented by as many carvings standing side by 
side inside the house, at the back. 
Wistis was another Larhsail chief of Kisgagas, who belonged to the same clan as 
Weemenawzek. His crest Nose-like-cohoe (Tsarams'cpqh ) was painted all over the walls, 
at many places, inside his house.® He had a pole, a plain shaft, with no carving.® 
(51) Poles at Hagwel^et 
The following notes were recorded by Mr. D. Jenness, among the 
Carriers of Hagw^elget, in 1922. 
“There was a totem pole of spruce — not cedar — erected east of Francis lake, at an old 
village called Dzekonekaz. It was about 25 feet high and uncarved. On top of the pole, 
inside a box, were placed the charred bones of two or three relatives. It was erected by 
Tchasbet, of the Gilserhyu clan “(what we call phratry elsewhere)” about 1875. It 
rotted and fell about 1919. This is the only totem pole outside Hagwelget (among the 
Carriers) of which Felix George® knows. The uncle of the man who erected the pole had 
a sister married to a Gitksan of Gitsegyukla. 
A chief died at Bear lake. He was burned and his bones were set on top of a short 
pole. Charlie Hunter, of Fort Graham, saw the pole at Bear lake. 
A pole was erected at the Moricetown canyon earlier than those at the Hagwelget 
canyon. It fell and was burnt after the construction of the Telegraph line (1866). 
Totem Poles at Hagwelget. These poles were called nmtse’ or totems. 
They were brought several miles from the forests to their present site, 
hundreds of people helping to convey them. It took about a day to travel 
half a mile. The transport, the carving, and erection of the pole were 
done by people of clans other than that to which the pole was to belong. 
While the carving was being done — it sometimes required a whole wdnter — - 
the pole was covered with cedar bark mats, so that no one might see the 
figures until it was erected. The carving was done in the place where it was 
to be erected. Each pole rests about 8 feet in the ground, and was hoisted 
by means of strong ropes of moose and caribou hide. The work of transport- 
ing, carving, and hoisting the pole was undertaken not only by the Carrier 
themselves, but by many of the Tsimsyan from Kispiox, Hazelton, and other 
Skeena River villages, where the clans were the same. As soon as it was 
erected, the husbands of the women to whose clan the pole belonged 
(whether Tsimsyan or Carrier) laid an offering at the foot of the pole — -a 
coat, a gun, blankets, or skins. These were gathered into a pile by the 
clan to which the pole belonged and distributed as payment to all those 
who had helped in the work. Thus the owners’ clan paid the other clans 
for their assistance. Totem poles were erected at a funeral potlatch. 
^Mentioned above as a member of the Qaldo tribe. 
*.\l 30 according to Paul Morrison (Dzeeus). 
•Also according to Paul Morrison. 
•.According to Mrs. Jimmy Williams. 
•An old Carrier informant. 
