The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-23
MOST ARTISTIC OF INDIANS.
Development of the Haidas Shown in
 Smithsonian Collection.

washington Post.
 Peculiarly interesting and uniue is the col lection at the Smithsonian institution show ing the wonderful development in art of the Haida Indians, surpassing that of any of the savages. The collection is we'll worth study ing, the carvings in black slate by those peo- pie being simply admirable in their execu- tion Among these carvings. of which there is a large number. the raven is conspicuous subject. This is so because. according to Haida belief, the Creator of all things and the benefactor of man was great raven chief called Jeth. which had many human at tributes and also the power of transforming himself into any shape that he chose. He existed before his own birth. never grows old and will never die. Numerous are the stories of his adventures in peopiing the world and fish. game and all such
 The so-called totem columns of wood. which often ignorantly mistaken for idols and spoken of by guides in showing visitors through the institution, are in reality but the rich of the Haidas can afford to erect these columns. owing to the heavy expense of their elaborate carvings; and the possessor or one is thereby invested with the authority If a petty chief In his village. ruling with the same power and authority as a mayor ot one of our municipal corporations.
 The ambition of Haida's life is to possess and set up family column in front of his house. Usually the columns is surmounted by the totem or heraldic bearing of the man, or what not each clan having it's own totem, as is true of all Indians of the northwest coast. Below may be represented the totem of the wifc's clan. while the other designs may H. iustrate some legend connected with the totem of the owner
 Many of the columns are almost wholly le- gendary. Fer example. one of the collection represents the head Of a European. with whitened face and long black whiskers Ranked by two children in sitting posture This rep resents a legend which may have sprung from an actual occurrence of the Kidnapping of two children of the owners clan by white traders long ago. The figure next to the top with the instrument in its claws Is the crane, which
 formerly an expert win tools. put they
 been bewaiIine his fate. '1 want my tools
 is the cry which the crane now utters. The next figure below is Hoots. the hear
 holding between his paws the butterhy Al the creation, so 1t is said when Yeti was looking for fair land for man to occupy, the
 butterfly huttered over his head as he new
 When they came to the country now occupied by the Haidas the butterfly pointed with him proboscis to the good lands. and said; where Iiving' So that is why Haida came tc Queen Charlotte's Islands, and why bears are so abundant there.
 feasthouse of the famous chief, Skowl, who was the most bitter opponent whom the mis-
 sionaries from Russia encountered in on o gia tht tops the column Just below it is the carved figure of a man. with right hand uplifted and index finger pointing to the SKY. Ihls signi des that in the heavens the great God of the white man dwells. Below this IS the repre- sentation Of an angel. as conceived oy tnt Indians from the whites. and then comes the figure of a Russian priest, with hands piousiy
 folded across his breast.
 The mouse is the judge by which the Haidas detect persons who work bad magic and cause sickness and death. When any one |: taken i'll and dies wood mouse Is caught anc raised platform In front of three judges. whC are chosen as fair and impartial The little | house frightened. retires to corner or lt' | cage and eyes the judges. They then oeglr | to name over suspected persons and presently | the little mouse mods its head. The convictet
 is forced to pay money or blankets m to sre Dc | cleared of the charges and restored 10 free | dom and to citizenship.