Notes

FROM CARD: "LIGHTNING TOMANAWOS. COLLECTOR'S LEGEND: "THE HAK TAKE TO AK, OR LIGHTNING TAMANAWOS OF THE MAKAH INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY, W. T. THE BIRD ON THE FRONT IS THE CLOVIS OR THUNDERBIRD. THE BACK I SUPPOSE IS THE WHALE AND THE ENDS THE PRIVATE HERALDRY SIGNS OF CERTAIN CHIEFS. THUNDERCLOUDS ARE SUPPOSED BY THE COAST TRIBES TO BE UNIVERSE BIRDS AND LIGHTNING TO BE A FABULOUS ANIMAL LIKE THE SEAHORSE WHICH THE BIRD COLLECTS FROM THE OCEAN IN GREAT NUMBERS. SHE KEEPS CONCEALED AMONG HER FEATHERS. THUNDER IS CAUSED BY THE FLAPPING OF ITS WINGS AND LIGHTNING BY ITS DARTING DOWN, ETC. HAH TAKE TO AK WITH ITS FIREY TONGUE. PORT TOWNSEND, W. T. J. G. SWAN 1861".Some of the motifs carved and painted on this stone are similar in style to the ones depicted in a drawing/watercolor done by James G. Swan, dated November 29, 1859 and titled "Thunder Bird of the Makahs from the Tamanous [i.e. tomanawos] board in the house of the late Yellicom or Flattery Jack". This drawing is illustrated on p. 76 of Miles, George A., James Gilchrist Swan, Franz Stenzel, and Kathryn M. Stenzel. 2003. James Swan, cha-tic of the Northwest Coast: drawings and watercolors from the Franz & Kathryn Stenzel collection of western American art. New Haven, Conn: Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University. The drawing is also discussed on pp. 22 of this publication.