FROGS
References:
Plate 4, Figure 3. Inside Totem Pole. Haida .
Plate 7, Wigure 6. Painting of Frogs. Haida .
Plate 11, Figure 4. Carved on Slate Box. Haida.
Plate 17, Figure 4. Woven Blanket. Tsimsyan.

To-day, the Frog Crest is nearly universal among some
Tsimsyan Clans on the Skeena River, and is said to be the
oldest emblem owned by certain families. There was a curious
belief that frogs turned into abalone shells.

On Plate 4, Figure 3, two frogs are shown hanging from
Raven's beak. Plate 7, Figure 6 reproduces a part of Chief
Edensaw's beautiful crayon drawings which illustrated the
closing episode in a Haida legend concerned with Raven's ad-
venture when securing daylight, for until then the people had
known only a twilight world. The story goes that as Raven was
fleeing from the pursuit of the Hosts of the Skies after steal-
ing the box containing Daylight he reached the mouth of the
Naas River where all was dark. Hearing the noise of the Frog
fishermen catching oolachan in their bag-nets he asked them
to throw some of their catch, but the Animal People recognized
Raven's voice, knew his tricks and refused his request, saying:
"Where did you come from, Great Liar?" Thereupon Raven broke
the precious box, and Lo! it was dazzling Daylight! Then North
Wind began to blow hard and all the fishermen (the Frogs) were
driven away from the river until they arrived at one of the
large mountainous islands. Here they tried to climb the steep
cliff, but they stuck fast to the rock, frozen by the North
Wind. There they are still on that rock, these fishing frogs,
who refused Raven's request for food. :

Nevertheless, the Fraser Valley people agreed with the
Haida opinion that frogs were quick-witted creatures and sup-
ported this opinion by the following tale:

"Frog offered to run a race with Deer, claiming that he
knew he would be the winner. This made Deer laugh. He was
sure he could easily out-run Frog, who could only hop, hop,
hop. But clever Frog called other frogs to help him. These he
stationed in hiding-places all the way along which the race was
to be run. He charged each one to keep watch, and when he saw
Deer approaching each frog in turn would come out of his hiding-
place and hop along ahead of Deer. As these frogs all looked
alike, Deer believed each one to be Frog himself. Deer never

ee AVA Ce