Art, Prehistoric; Folk literature -- History and criticism
[Illustration: Fig. 159. Headdress representing beaver; a dragon-fly is
shown on the chest of the beaver, Haida.]
Fig. 157 _b_ is another representation of a beaver from the model of a
totem pole. It resembles the former one in all details, except that the
stick is missing. The beaver is merely holding its three-toed forepaws
raised to the chin. In other carvings the beaver is shown with four or
five toes, but the symbols described here never vary.
On the handle of a spoon (fig. 158), the head and forepaws of the
beaver are shown; and in its mouth are indicated an upper pair of
incisors, all the other teeth being omitted. The scaly tail is shown
on the back of the spoon. The nose differs from the one previously
described only in the absence of the spiral development of the nostril.
Its form and size agree with the preceding specimens.
In the centre of the front of a dancing headdress (fig. 159), a beaver
is represented in squatting position. The symbols mentioned before
will be recognized here. The face is human, but the ears, which
rise over the forehead, indicate that an animal is meant. Two large
pairs of incisors occupy the center of the open mouth. The tail,
with cross-hatchings, is turned up in front of the body, and appears
between the two hind legs. The forepaws are raised to the height of
the mouth, but they do not hold a stick.[102] The nose is short, with
large round nostrils and turns abruptly into the forehead. On the
chest of the beaver another head is represented over which a number
of small rings stretch upward. This animal represents the dragon-fly,
which is symbolized by a large head and a slender segmented body.[103]
Its feet extend from the corners of its mouth towards the haunches of
the beaver. Its face resembles a human face; but the two ears, which
rise over the eyebrows, indicate that an animal is meant. In many
representations of the dragon-fly there are two pairs of wings attached
to the head. Combinations of two animals similar to the present one are
found frequently, as in figs. 165, 170 and 235.
[102] For additional representations of the beaver see figs. 216, 225,
228, 229, 230, 255, 283.
[103] See p. 192.
In a painting from a Kwakiutl house-front (fig. 160), which was made
for me by an Indian from Fort Rupert, the large head with the incisors
will be recognized. The scaly tail appears under the mouth. The broken
lines (1) around the eyes, indicate the hair of the beaver. The design
on each cheek (3) the bones of the face, the high point of the nose (2)
its sudden turn. The nostrils are large and round as in the specimens
described before. Under the corners of the mouth are the feet. The
meaning of the two ornaments over the head is doubtful.
[Illustration: Fig. 160. Painting for a house-front placed over the
door, representing the beaver, Kwakiutl Indians.]
[Illustration: Fig. 161. Halibut hook with design representing a
sculpin swallowing a fish, Tlingit.
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