GGS ANTHROPOLOGICAL PAPERS. 



strips huDg ill front that it was impossible to catch a glimpse of the 

 face. Their legs were painted with stripes of red, and wet with water 

 to imitate blood. They jumped around in many ways, high and low, 

 sometimes running and clapping their hands, while the other Indians 

 accompanied them with the usual chanting and black tamauous music. 

 After a few moments they ran back into the house. Then about as 

 many more came out in much the same garb as those seen ou Sabbath 

 evening and Monday afternoon, with ropes around their waists held by 

 others. These had cut themselves slightly under their tongues and 

 chins, so that the blood ran down their arms and breasts a little, and 

 their faces were so black that it was impossible for me to recognize 

 them, although well acquainted with some of them. They jumped 

 around much as the previous set had done, and then went back to the 

 house. Then the first set again came and performed in the same way 

 as before, and ere they returned the second set were out again, but 

 some of them were not held this time by the ropes. Such actions as 

 these were kept up for nearly three quarters of an hour, when one set ran 

 off up the beach for 200 or 300 yards, accompanied by their friends, both 

 men and women, and soon the other set followed in a similar manner. 

 I judged from appearances that I was not wanted, so did not go. They 

 remained there about two hours, while I w^ent to dinner, and the per- 

 formers, it was said, were washed by the others. After this they came 

 back. The first set were in front, surrounded by their friends, who 

 kept up the usual noise. They ran towards the water as they advanced 

 and then away from it a few rods, so that they moved along the beach 

 very slowly. After them the second set came in a similar way and 

 three women had by this time become so excited that they also danced as 

 the men did, but in their usual dress. After them came a third com- 

 pany following one boy. He had on a shirt and pair of i)autaloons, 

 rolled up above his knees, and on his head a band with a very long 

 feather standing up in it. He walked into the water knee deep, bowed 

 his head until he dipped the tip of his feather in the water, then he 

 walked slowly up the beach for about 2 rods, then went into the wate^; 

 again as before, and so advanced along the beach very slowly towards 

 the house. This was said to represent a crane, and is called the crane 

 tamanous. I understood that this boy, who was about fourteen years 

 old and was a Klallam, was being initiated into this kind of tam- 

 anous. When each company came near the house each dancer was 

 seized by two or three persons and hurried, half running and half car- 

 rie«l, into the potlatch house. Two or three times I asked them what 

 this was intended to teach and could only get the answer, " It is their 

 tamanous." So I could oidy look on and gather most of my informa- 

 tion in this way. As these are the rites of a secret society it is not 

 strange that the members do not explain them to the uninitiated. After 

 all went into the house two coiui)anies were formed, one at each end, 

 and there was a strife to see which should conquer ; but the house was 



