HARGO, THE HALIBUT

Reference:

Plate 2, Figure 1. Haida.

The Halibut ranks among*the most ancient crests of the Eagle
Phratry of the Tsimsyan Tribe as well as of their relatives else-
where. In the course of the migration of the ancestors of the
Eagle Clan years ago southwards along the coast from Alaska, their
leader, Hlarey, was swallowed by a Supernatural Halibut as he was
Swimming off-shore in an attempt to reach a canoe set adrift by
the tide. After his infuriated relatives had killed this monster
they discovered that its body was entirely covered with human
faces. From that moment they adopted the Halibut as their erest,
and it is carved on many of their totem poles.

Hargo, the Halibut, plays an important part in the various
tribal legends of the War with the Owner of the South Wind, which
blew so continuously and tossed the waves about so roughly that
the Animal People could obtain no food, not even clams on the
seashore. So they held a Council and decided to borrow the big
canoe owned by Killer Whale, in which Devil-fish, Halibut, Red
Cod, Cockle and others took their seats, with Raven, Deer and
Sea-Bear to keep them company. On their arrival at the house of
the Owner of the South Wind they made several vain attempts to
capture him, but at last a plan was devised in which Halibut
played an important part. He was directed to lie down flat just
outside the door; the Owner of the South Wind was driven out by
a trick and slithering instantly on Halibut's slippery surface
he slid right down into the canoe. There Devil-fish seized him
firmly with his suckers while Sea-Bear laid hold of him so that
he could not move. After useless struggles by South Wind and
much discussion on both sides, a peaceful agreement was finally
reached by which the Owner of the South Wind promised to blow ~
only on a definite number of days each month. From this far off
date until the present time this promise has been kept and all
the Animals have been able to secure the necessary food to pre-
Serves unenrce Meivicse

247 —