The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-11-24
LIFE AMONG THE nAIDAHa


What Mr. Buldnch Saw In the Lovely
Queen Charlotte Islands-
1T A Bulfnch in Port Townsend Leader.
There we're perhaps 100 natives living in
this village. though evidence of much
larger former population were plentiful in
shape Of excavations and tunnels, and the
many moss-grown heraldic pillars, some of
them inclining to their fall, and whose
owners had long since ceased to ply the
graceful paddle or poise the keen dart in
their midnight forays, but. gathered to
their fathers, in the adjacent woods their
narrow collins (boxes put on endl were
scattered. and frequently the sounds of
grief issued thence when some mother
perhaps bewailed and refused to be COM
forted.
have observed, and with care, these
people at the grave of their dead. After
uncomfortable bursts of grief q long silence
occurs, and then one imagines they are
listening to dialogue, for voice asks
questions and awaits reply. They act
uaIly believe they are talking to the de-
parted, and are consoled accordingly. The
funeral interview concluded. they come
from the woods as blythe and cheerful a.
ever, or Just as ready to steal anything a.
ever and put on an injured air It detected.
The carved columns referred TO are often
placed before the house of the rich who
can pay for them. but also in many cases
indicate antiquity Of family or tell of some
great deed of the owner. The Hottest one
at this village was perhaps seventy feet
high and most deliberately carved.
These inscriptions are not understood by
all the Indians. The common horde don't
seem to be posted. knowledge of the past
k><ss~~ s,<n4 t<.o fox< old
quarians who, with sententious gravity.
mayhap like Daniel at BeIshazzar's feast,
read and interpret
OF all blue blood in the world the Hal.
dab, dare say, Is the most exclusive. I
know an old crOne who could in appear
ance have shamed MAbeth's witches, be-
ing conspicuously horrible. but who was
importunate at all times to enter and make
herself at home. When she did conde-
scend so far it seemed there was . special
decorum for the occasion. Even the brawl-
ing children were subdued, and dignified
quiet took the place OF loud calculations
and laughter.
.sHhe was . "Tyee Clootchmann or chief
tainess. descended from long line Of kings.
and living encyclopedia of the long-gons
Cook and Kendrick, for Methuseiah
couldn't have looked 0ider-but q child.
probably, in the time of their last King
s.Skidegate."
These islands were once ruled by one
supreme chief or king named Skideeate.
Each succeeding chief TOOK this name but
no son could take the place or name; it had
70 b nephew or other relative. Each vii
lage now has it, chief, who is factor for
good or bad. - the case may be.
We campod "outSide" the next tvo
days, and Cit and managed the cooking
In tine style. Cts mother dropped in and
looked on patronizingly, even offered to
help. but We declined with many thanks.
and the old lady appearing hurt gave
ments the nose of some of the family to
this day. Many of them pierce their
noses and suspend shells and other biiou.
terie from them, and it isn't bad idea.
either, for what is jewelry for il not to Be
conspicuous and admiredf
The little girls have the lower lin pierced.
and this orifice Is enlarged from Time to
something like . cnf-button, the larre side
out, is inserted, and on this the lin laws dis
tended, exposing the teeth. The fact Is
the HaidAh women have more lin than anv
others We know Of, and TO see Q bunch Of
them quarreling, the lip shaking with An
ger, 10 . sight not to be forgotten. These
domesuc1 rows are frequent and
not intoxicated no harm Is done
but when in6amed with lionor
dreadful scenes occur, for the men take
sides and use their guns and become
hends for the time, sparing neither age nor
sax. The Old women are generally n the
bottom OF all these rows, and also act Alter
IS peacemakers, looking a. innocent AZ
lambs. They are great diplomats and gem
orally contrive TO have their own way. and
1t 10 mistake to imagine them q treated
es slaves be. for though they do much
drudgery il II expected in their custom
and IN offer of assistance from Z man
would be laughed ct.
A child Is not commanded to do so
and 30, II he or she omits ito thinkn of
performin the service; cutting sarcasm
u their punishment, and il has as much
effect apparently - . rswhide would on s
white boy. We have seen these young
sters' faces cloud up when such methods
were used land for some trivial thinel
and ashamed. they would 70 avav bv
themselves for whole day. Shame Il :
great element in Haidah life, but thew are
subject to IL just where the whites are not
1hey are mot ashamed II caught seeolinr.
%, y 90, q not being successful Many
81 our tradee aro represented among them.
carpenters. canoe-buildeEs. engravere. etc..
o&3 Yh4GD NATIVES Ar ysrat,e ~, a.