486 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



Fig. 132. 



HEAD RING OP SPEAKER OF NENALAATS'KQA 



Koskhno. 



Cat. No. 116509, U. S. N. M. Collected by F. Boas. 



seen to fly in the air. Actually there is a second one of the same 

 shape as the implement that was seen in the ma'maq'a's hands. This 

 is attached to a long string, which is stretched across the rear of the 

 house where the seal society are sitting. Two men are holding the 

 string, one on each side of the house, and hidden in the bedrooms. Uy 

 pulling the rope and tightening and slackening it the worm is seen to 



tly up and down and from the right to 

 the left. While it is Hying there tiie 

 ma'raaq'a moves to the right and to the 

 left in front of it, his hands stretched 

 forward, the palms upward, the elbows 

 to the side, always moving with short, 

 quick steps. Finally the flying worm 

 disappears and the ma'raaq'a catches 

 it again. Then he resumes his motions 

 of throwing and finally seems to throw 

 it into himself. He almost collapses, 

 and tries to rid himself of the disease- 

 bringing object by vomiting. Blood is 

 seen to flow from his month and down 

 his whole body. This is sometimes pro- 

 cured by biting the inside of the cheek or by breaking a small bladder 

 containing blood which the dancer holds in his mouth. After pro- 

 longed efforts he vomits the worm. At once he is hale and well and 

 proceeds in his dance. Now he throws the fourth time. The worm tiies 

 into some of the people, who at once jump up and rush toward the Are, 

 where they fall down lifeless. 

 THood is streaming out of their 

 mouths. The ma'maci'a con- 

 tinues to dance around them, 

 blows upon them until finally 

 they are carried away like 

 dead. The ma'maq'a follows 

 them and either he or the 

 shaman restores them to life. 

 During all this ceremony the 

 singers beat the boards rai)idly 

 and silently, only stopping 

 when the ma/maq'a does not 

 dance. His song is sung after 

 he has finished his dance. At the close t)f the dancing season the 

 ma'nuKi'a indemnifies his victims by the payment of a few blankets. 



Sometimes instead of throwing the disease, he throws a harpoon head. 

 There are also two of these used in the ceremony. One is held and 

 shown by the ma/maq'a. It is a real point of a^ sealing harpoon. The 

 other has no blade, but is provided with two hooks to hook it to the 



Pig. 133. 



NECK RING OP NENALAATS'EQA. 



Koskimo. 



Cat. No. nr.t95, V. S. N. M. Collected by K. Una 



