"I thought those great poles by your doors were totems," said Ted, puzzled.
"Yes," said the girl. "They are caste totems, and all who are of any rank have them. As we belong to the Raven, or Bear, or Eagle clan, we have the carved poles to show our rank, but the totem of the dead is quite different. It does not stand beside the door, but far away. It is alone, as the soul of the dead in whose honour it is made. It is but little carved. A square hole is cut at the back of the pole, and the body of the dead, wrapped in a matting of cedar bark, is placed within, a board being nailed so that the body will not fall to the ground. A potlatch is given, and food from the feast is put in the fire for the dead person."
"It seems queer to put weapons and blankets and things to eat on people's graves," said Ted. "Why do they do it?"
"Of the dead we know nothing," said Tanana. "Perhaps the warrior spirit wishes his arrows in the Land of the Great Unknown."
"Yes, but he can't come back for them," persisted Ted.
"At Wrangel, Boston man put flowers on his girl's grave," said Kalitan, drily. "She come back and smell posy?"
Having no answer ready, Ted changed the subject and asked:
"Why do you have the raven at the top of your totem pole?"
"Indian cannot marry same totem," said Kalitan. "My father was eagle totem, my mother was raven totem. He carve her totem at the top of the pole, then his totem and those of the family are carved below. The greater the family the taller the totem."
"How do you get these totems?" demanded Ted.