The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds Volume 1

THE WHALE HOUSE OF THE CHILKAT BY GEORGE T. EMMONS The book presents a detailed account of the Chilkat people focusing on their past before the impact of white settlers. The author George T. Emmons draws on his 25 years of personal acquaintance with the Tlingit to provide an intimate look at their social customs and practices. The Chilkat were a proud independent race living in heavy timber houses that represented the best traditions of the past. Emmons laments the loss of these old houses and customs due to the influence of white civilization education and missionary efforts. The book includes detailed descriptions of the architecture and ornamentation of the old communal houses such as the Whale House the largest and most elaborately ornamented house in Alaska. Emmons provides illustrations and explanations of the intricate carvings on the house posts each telling a story from the Chilkat''s mythology. These stories include the capture of a king salmon by the Raven the tearing of a sealion in two by Duck-toolh and the fondling of a wood-worm by a girl named Ka-kutch-an. Through these stories and detailed descriptions Emmons paints a vivid picture of the Chilkat''s rich cultural heritage and the impact of outside influences on their way of life. The book serves as a tribute to the disappearing traditions of the Chilkat people and their unique architectural and artistic legacy. It offers a glimpse into a world that is rapidly fading away preserving the memory of a proud and independent race that once thrived in the Pacific Northwest.