VII. _Indian Tribes of the Northwest Coast._
In some of these tribes, beside the Kolushes, the gentile organization prevails. "Before leaving Puget's Sound," observes Mr. Gibbs, in a letter to the author, "I was fortunate enough to meet representatives of three principal families of what we call the Northern Indians, the inhabitants of the Northwest Coast, extending from the Upper end of Vancouver's Island into the Russian Possessions, and the confines of the Esquimaux. From them I ascertained positively that the totemic system exists at least among these three. The families I speak of are, beginning at the northwest, Tlinkitt, commonly called the Stikeens, after one of their bands; the Tlaidas; and Chimsyans, called by Gallatin, Weas. There are four totems common to these, the Whale, the Wolf, the Eagle, and the Crow. Neither of these can marry into the same totem, although in a different nation or family. What is remarkable is that these nations constitute entirely different families. I mean by this that their languages are essentially different, having no perceptible analogy." Mr. Dall, in his work on Alaska, written still later, remarks that "the Tlinkets are divided into four totems: the Raven (Yehl), the Wolf (Kanu´kh), the Whale, and the Eagle (Chethl).... Opposite totems only can marry, and the child usually takes the mother's totem."[183]
Mr. Hubert H. Bancroft presents their organization still more fully, showing two phratries, and the gentes belonging to each. He remarks of the Thlinkeets that the "nation is separated into two great divisions or clans, one of which is called the Wolf and the other the Raven.... The Raven trunk is again divided into sub-clans, called the Frog, the Goose, the Sea-Lion, the Owl, and the Salmon. The Wolf family comprises the Bear, Eagle, Dolphin, Shark, and Alca.... Tribes of the same clan may not war on each other, but at the same time members of the same clan may not marry with each other. Thus, the young Wolf warrior must seek his mate among the Ravens."[184]
The Eskimos do not belong to the Ganowánian family. Their occupation of the American continent in comparison with that of the latter family was recent or modern. They are also without gentes.