Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-10-06
Az EXHIBITION or rorEMs.

One Of the rarest and best OF the ethnOlog-
zeal displays at the Fair comes from lllth-
Cah-Geetla, "a village on Queen Charlotte =
Island. north OF Alaska. The exhibit IL sit
uated in the Anthropological Building, west
OF the main aisle aud near the north en-
trance. The exhibit consists Of a collection
oftotems made by the Indians OF the island.
They typify in grotesque carving and vivid
colorng many Of the most important events
in tribal history.
The display tells its own story TO the
learned. but scarcely one visitor in 10000
knows the significance OF the oddly shaped
poles and miniature houses. kindly faced
old man with n snail cap set loosely on the
back OF his head. wearing Il snow-yhi,e lull
beard. his keen blue eyes twinslinc with good
nature. il on hand, ready to translate Tor
curious visitors the signs OF the tOtems.
According to his own story. John Deans.
man and boy, has spent forty years on the
Pacific coast. Nearly all OF that time has
been spent among the Indians on Queen
Caarlo,te's Island. He is an Englishman
and visitors love TO hear his CHEEKY way OF
pronouncing the names Of the curious char
acters he talks about. Mr.. Deans never
grows tired OF telling the legends OF the ISL
and. A knot OF visitors listened while h9
told the story Of a particularly horrlole-!ooS-
ing totem.
"Oh. that totem there he began. well,
I'll tell YOU all about il. You see there were
once two brothers. both very much loved by
their father. To one Of them he gave cop
per collar which he wore always about his
neck. Well, the two brothers grew and were
getting to be amazing fine young men. All
% o sudden one day, when nobody was eS-
pecting anything, one OF the brothers. the
II. 4 raI
they looked everywhere for him. but couldn't
End him. They had given 1t all up and
never expected to see him again. when the
old man took a notion he'd go fishing. So
ont he goes and drops his line in the ocean.
First thing he knows he gets bite, and then
he gives a pull and out comes a big salmon.
H., takes the fish home and cuts 1t open.
What do YOU think he foundy' Here Mr..
Deans muses.. while distinct thrill passes
through his listeners.
.'Why, he found that copper collar. Then
ne knew something was wrong, so he goes
out 10 the woods and finds some magic
roots. These he hobs into kettle and bolls
some tea. Then he throws il over the fish.
and up Jumps the boy as big as life. And
that's the story OF this totem. Its truth IS
proved by the carvings on the post.
The totems on exhibition in the Anthropo-
logical Building are reproductions IN mlnia-
ture ofthe thirty-foOt ornaments that stand
in front OF the Indian houses on Charlotte
Island. An Indians rank is denoted by his
toton. Its carved figures indicate to de-
GREG his wealth and social standing. The
Rear tribe or family is the highest in rank
in the village Of th-Cah-Geetla. Bears ears
carved on a totem are the insignia Of this
mighty elan. Then in lower grades come the
wolf eagle and raven.
Funerals in the village are conducted in an
original manner. Such thing as burial )
unknown. Instead of this some Of the reia-
tiyes OF the deceased 90 to the nearest forest
end cut down a good sized tree. This g
brought with infinite labor to the home OF
the departed and there followed out. 1t Is
then stood on emf aud sunk into the ground
The BODY is inclosed in box and slid into
tho hollow trunk. To protect II from the
elements the top o; the shell IS covered with
boards nailed on securely. Then to ward on
evil spirits fantastic figurehead is nailed 10
the tree.
Often monuments are built before mem
Der OF the family Is In position to need
one. II is said to be considered marx OF
great respect for MAJ 10 build monument
10 his wife. Inscriptions on such testimon-
ial bear witness to the wlfe's goodness and
desire on the part OF her husband to be
worthy OF her. At the wite's death the monu-
ment is torn down.
Fishing, hunting and Woodworking form
the chief occupations OF the natives. THEFT
salmon industry forms their largest and most
lucrative pursuit. The men do the catching
an the women the preserving. In the lato
fail and early spring. when the salmon begin
10 run in schools, the men take their gill nets
and dip up salmon by the hundred. As fast
as the Ash are caught they are taken ashore
10 the women, who cut them up and put
them into cans. which ara afterwari hermeti-
cally alci. They are then taken to FAC
tory where the cans are put into steam
chest end steamed until their contents ars
Thoroughly cooked. Then hole is made in
the TOD ofthe can 10 let out the steam AMI
oily water. a9sr which the product IS ready
fort the market. The large salmon eanncries
on Qusen Caarlottes and surrounding 81.
andf are supported ly Vancouver capital