New-York tribune., 1896-10-24

Retween the Egyptian or the Greek and the
Alaska Thlinket there is vast disparity In art
and architecture in social and political organiza-
tion and in influence upon the general history OF
the world. no comparison between them can be
Instituted Yet 10 the student OF the human NINA
and soul, and their mysterious workings the
Thiinkets are invested with fascinating interest
Their origin is shrouded in uncertainty. AZtecs
saw some driven from Mexico by cruel Cortez, as
witness MANY of their words and the carvings
on their monuments New-Zealander Maorls
says another. pointing to their architecture ana
dress The Lost Tribes of Israel contends third'
for some less obvious reason American indiah
mixed with Chinese or japanese. Is the plausible
theory OF the present authors.
Hut whatever may be the truth concerning
their origin they have one dominant trait that
marks their kinshp with many other tripes ana
peoples That is. the totem. The totemic system
has been perhaps all but universal 1t arose, no
DOUBT, from nature worship and ancestor wor-
ship; perhaps ultimately from some vague. un-
conscious consciousness Of evolution from lower
types Of being. 1t exists to-day, to some extent,
among the natives Of Australia. Africa Asia and
the three Americas. often degraded into fetch
ism while traces Of its former sway are found all
through the Aryan race. But nowhere is it now
10 he found in so pure and simple form AS
among the Thlnkets. 1t is the central and dom
inant principle Of their family and social organi-
cation Every relationship in life is modified by
H. Indeed. it may he doubted If ever, among any
other people it has been vital and controlling
The Thlnkets are divided into two great
groups those under the totem of the WOLF. or
Bear. and those under the Raven, or Eagle.
These are subdivided into clans, each under It's
own sub-totenn. Every person necessarily belongs
10 some totem. by virtue Of his birth and ances-
try He does not, however being man, always
remain in it, On the contrary, he is bound 10
leave it for another when he gets married. For
marriage can take place only between persons OF
different totems. Thus Beaver cannot marry
Beaver but must seek bride among-let US say
the owls Moreover. a man not only marries
Into another totem. but actually merges himself
into II. The Beaver man. marrying the Owl
woman becomes himself an OWL and all the chill
aren are Owls Genealogically. therefore. the
wife is the head OF the family
And genealogy is the chief science Of the
rblinkets. as witness the totem poles before all
their houses to which they give the best labor Of
their lives. These are not primarily objects Of
worship, az SONS have supposed any more than
ancestors tombs in China. They are genealog-
lcal and historical monuments. or records. and
the respect paid to them is really intended for the
ancestors they represent. They are elaborately
rarved with clan emblems. records Of marriages
and family legends and traditions. The making
Of one Is a labor OF love. and its erection Is one
Of the great events Of mans life. 1t is dedi-
rated with elaborate ceremonies. known pot
latch including a public feast and a distribution
Of gifts, according to the means Of the owner OF
the pole. The value Of the pole Is reckoned by
the money or other valuables expended upon it
At the original dedication and at the annually re-
eurring pot-latches which are given by those who
ran afford them and IL is the ambition Of every
man to have his pole valued as highly as possible.
Blood atonement is another Thlinket trait that
marks the kinship Of these people with universal
primitive man. In olden times, the Russian
oonauerors learned, the Thlinkets were notably
warike, fierce and cruel. Now their spirit is
broken and their battle cries hushed. But
the merciless law Of retaliation still holds sway.
and In its EXTREMIST application has. within the
last few years. been an acknowledged force To
It. indeed there Is practically no resistance JUS
tice bravado or what not calls forth ready
sacrifice:
The chief of the murderers clan summoned
and, In g loud voice. cried: who will pay our
debt? Who is ready to die?"
moment Of awful silence. Swift. searching
eiances sWept the room, Suddenly. by tacit