The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (17539010683)

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo10amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library



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NORTHWEST COAST IXDIAXS 35 bureau stood in the wind and rain. Perhaps it had been owned and highly regarded bv the woman interred or had been something that she had longed for and now that she was dead her relatives were showing the greatness of their grief by sacrificing a valuable piece of property to the elements. The Indians often erect beside the graves curious monuments such as wooden representations of "coppers," as is shown in the illustration on page 34. These coppers are pieces of metal of dis- tinctive shape and markings. They are of no great intrinsic value, but
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TOTEM POLES, ALERT BAY when bought and sold among the Indians they increase to almost fabulous worth. When a copper is transferred there is always a gathering and a feast. The Indians value a copper so highly that the white store keeper takes the piece of metal as credit and advances groceries and dry goods to the Indians for perhaps a whole year until they are able to go to the cannery and earn money. On coming back from the canneries the Indians always redeem their copper securities and again use them, buy- ing and selling them at enhanced values and with special ceremonials.