There is an island larger than the rest, called Ho-moh-ah, where once
the tribe of Seshahts made their summer home. It lies well out to
sea, and on the sheltered side the Seshahts lived. The chief of the
tribe was Shewish. His house was large, so large that when he called
his people to a great potlatch, they all could find within its walls
an ample space to feast and dance. His house like all the old time
dwellings was built on simple lines, the three great roof-logs each
of single trees, upheld by posts of ample girth. The sides and roof
of wide-split cedar boards were adzed to lie close, and fastened
into place by twisted cedar rope. Within, on either side was raised
a wooden platform two feet high. This platform and a portion of
the floor adjoining it in sections was partitioned off by screens
of cedar mats. Each section was the home of such as claimed close
kinship with the chief. The centre of the lodge for its whole length
was common to all who lived therein. The people cooked their food
upon the common fire, the smoke of which curled up and found an exit
through the smoke hole in the roof. The section tenanted by the
family of Shewish lay furthest from the door. No feature except one
marked it as different from the homes of lesser men. A pictographic
painting--the Coat of Arms of the great family of Shewish hung upon
the wall. The picture told in graphic form how came the name of
Shewish to be famed among the hunters of the whale. It also told
the legend of the THUNDER BIRDS.
[Illustration: HAND ADZE MADE AND USED BY INDIANS OF BARKLEY SOUND]