6 is a figure from a totem pole, which represents the beaver. It will be noticed that the face is treated somewhat like a human face, particularly the region around eyes and nose. The position of the ears, however, indicates that the artist intended to represent an animal head, not a human head. While the human ear is represented, in its characteristic form, on a level with the eye (Figs. 26 and 28), animal ears are indicated over the forehead; that is to say, approximately in the position in which they appear in a front view of the animal. Their characteristic shape may be seen in Figs. 6 and 7, and in many others. While the ears characterize the head as that of an animal, the two large incisors serve to identify the rodent par excellence—the beaver. The tail of the animal is turned up in front of its body. It is ornamented by cross-hatching, which is intended to represent the scales on the beaver’s tail. In its forepaws it holds a stick. The large incisors, the tail with cross-hatching, and the stick, are symbols of the beaver, and each of these is a sufficient characteristic of the animal.
Fig. 7 is another representation of a beaver from a totem pole. It resembles Fig. 6 in all details, except that the stick its missing. The beaver is simply holding its forepaws raised nearly to its chin. There are other carvings in which the beaver is shown with four or five toes, but the symbols described here never vary.
In Fig. 8, which is the handle of a spoon, we find only the first of the symbols of the beaver represented, namely, its incisors. Only the head and the forepaws of the animal are shown; and in its mouth are indicated an upper and a lower pair of incisors, all the other teeth being omitted. There is nothing except the teeth to indicate that the artist intended to represent the beaver.
Fig. 9 is the front of a dancing headdress, which is attached to a framework made of whalebone, and set on top with bristles of the sea lion. To the back is attached a long train of ermine skins. The outer side of the carved front is set with abalone shells. The squatting figure which occupies the center of the front represents the beaver. The same symbols which were mentioned before will be recognized here. The face is human; but the ears, which rise over the eyebrows, indicate that an animal is meant. Two large pairs of incisors occupy the center of the open mouth. The tail is turned up in front of the body, and appears between the two hind legs, indicated by cross-hatching. The forepaws are raised to the height of the mouth, but they do not hold a stick. It will be noticed that on the chest of the beaver another head is represented, over which a number of small rings stretch toward the chin of the beaver. Two feet, which belong to this animal, extend from the corners of its mouth toward the haunches of the beaver. This animal represents the dragonfly, which is symbolized by a large head and a slender segmented body. In many representations of the dragonfly there are two pairs of wings attached to the head. The face of this animal resembles also a human face; but the two ears, which rise over the eyebrows, indicate that an animal is meant. Combinations of two animals of this sort are found very frequently, a smaller figure of one animal being represented on the chest of a larger carving. Examples of this kind will be seen in Figs. 13 and 17.
FIG. 6 (16/556). Lowest figure from model of a totem pole, carved in slate, representing a beaver. Tribe, Haida. Height, 22.5 cm.
FIG. 7 (16/551). Lowest figure from model of a totem pole, carved in slate, representing a beaver. Tribe, Haida. Height, 19 cm.
FIG. 8 (19/1129). Handle of a spoon made of mountain-goat horn, design representing a beaver. Tribe, Tlingit. Length of handle, 8 cm.
Fig. 10 is a halibut hook, the point of which is carved with a design of the sculpin. The symbols of the fish are fins and tail. Those of this species of fish are two spines rising over its mouth, and joined dorsal fins. In this figure the sculpin is represented swallowing a fish, the tail of which protrudes from its mouth. The two spines appear immediately over the lips, their points being between the two eyes, which are represented by two circles with small projections. The two pectoral fins are indicated in bas-relief over the eyes. The joined dorsal fins extend from the eyes upward toward the narrowest part of the body. The tail of the animal extends toward the place where point and shank of the hook are bound together by means of a strip of spruce root.
FIG. 9 (16/245). Headdress representing a beaver. The dragonfly is shown on the chest of the beaver. Tribe, Haida. Height, 18 cm.
FIG. 10 (E/1251). Halibut hook with design representing a sculpin swallowing a fish. Tribe, Tlingit. Length of point, 26.5 cm.
FIG. 11 (16/567). Part of a totem pole with design representing a sculpin. Tribe, Tsimshian. Height from base to tip of tail, 220 cm.
The same animal is represented in a slightly different way in Fig. 11, which represents the lower portion of a totem pole. The lowest figure is probably the sun, or perhaps a starfish. Its arms extend upward, and are being bitten by a sculpin, which later is shown with its head downward, its back forward, and its tail extending upward. The head will be easily recognized. Two crescent-shaped ornaments above the corners of the mouth represent the gills of the fish. Above these are seen the pectoral fins. On the level of the pectoral fins toward the middle appear the symbols of the sculpin, namely, the two spines, the lower portions of which are decorated with small human faces. The eye is represented under the spine. The dorsal fin commences at the height of the eyes, and finally merges into the tail. The tail end of the fish is clasped by a human figure, which appears cut in two by the fish tail. This carving is also characterized by two symbols—the two spines and the joined dorsal fins.
FIG. 12 (16/328). Woollen legging with an appliqué design representing a sculpin. Tribe, Haida. Length, 28.5 cm; greatest width, 31 cm, 38 cm with fringes.
Конец
