The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-02

are interesting in SO far as they illus
trate the fact that all humanity, even
in its aboriginal and its barbarous
state, I'D Vt for its own protection GER
tain rules and laws of government"
Briefly told they are erected before the
houses and over the graves Of the ma
tives of high rank to show the distinc-
tion Of the living. or to commemorate
the dead. In most OF them there Is q
cavity for preserving the ashes Of cre-
mated dead. The figures Of animals
take the place Of the inscriptions used
on monuments of the civilized world.
These pictures, figures, or carvings, are
read as easily by the Alaskans as the
lettering upon the tombstones of the
present day. That owned by a chief is
ornamental on the too with a figure
wearing Tyhee hat, and upon this is
cut a series of rings corresponding with
the number of 'pot-latches" "a feast
with gifts) with which he had honored
his friends. The natives are divided
into families or classes. Each family
assumes some bird or animal as its en-
blen. Those in most frequent use,
! found here, are the raven. eagle, wolf,
bear frog and whale. The bird Is
! looked upon as sacred and never
harmed by the natives. The b!ackfish
signify the marriages by the succession
of figures carved on these These poles
are made from tree trunks twenty, fifty
to eighty feet high and from three to
six feet in diameter at the base. taper
ing as they ascend. The bark is care
fully removed and they are gorgeously
carved on the front. and followed out
| on .he back to make them easier 10
handle. The Indians are very jealous
| OF these genealogical symbols. They
will allow members of the same tribe
| to marry, but not those Of the same
badge" or totem-though they may II
| from different badges" These badges"
| extend through the entire race and
| form a closer connection than the vibal
| one. An Alaska man takes the totem
| Of his mothers family until he marries,
| when he assumes that of his wife's
| family. His own son does not inherit
| from him. but he is succeeded by his
| younger brother. or his sisters son. A
| wolf" marries a whale" and thus be-
comes a whale" himself. His son
| taking the mothers emblem) would
also be a whale" But his sister would
remain a wolf" no matter whom she
married. and her son would (after his
maternal uncles) be the next represen-
tative OF the wolf" family. After mar
riaGe should trouble arise between the
families Of a man and his wife, the man
Is obliged to range himself with his
| wife and her relatives and fight against
his own kindred.
| FAMILY PRIDE.
| may say the totem pole custom leads
to eXtravagant display Of family pride
among those who are we'll off. 1t Is as
much an evidence Of prosperity for Mr.
Bear to erect a high pole surmounted
with ali these horrid pictures, etc, as
1t is for the wealthy with us to live
in a palace, and 1t Is usually the Indian
who has gOodly supply Of this worlds
goods who aspires to the honors be.
slowed upon him by the erection OF
a totem. Still, any native can elevate
himself to distinction by giving a pot.
latch" and erecting totem pole. A
"pot-latch' Is feast or series Of feasts
In which the whole tribe Is invited tC
participate. These festivities last sew.
eral days. The hest provides all the
delicacies of the Alaskan market by
the canoe load. To these he adds thu
villainous compound, which the white
man has taught him to make-an in.
toxicant distilled from molasses ant
water, etc, even viler than that liquol
which the law denies to him
The man who gives away the most Il
considered the grandest and most pow.
erful one. and these ceremonials usual
ly reduce the giver to abject poverty
but as he struggles through the hare
lines which necessarily follow his pot
latch, he has a satisfied pride to con
sole him. At the close of the feas
with the assistance Of his guests, HI
sets uo his totem pole at the entranc,
Of his hut. A good sized totem pole ant
the ceremonies which precede its err
ection, cost from $1,000 to $4,000. Tht
family emblem also appears upon tn,