502 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



Then the chiefs order the man to invite the whole tribe to a meeting 

 which is to be held four days later. The three head chiefs inform the 

 tribe, in a speech made in a low voice, of their intention to hold a winter 

 dance, and the young chiefs request all to prepare themselves for this 

 festival. In particular, they are asked to clean themselves, and to 

 refrain from intercourse with women, as the spirit WTna'lag'ilis, who has 

 his home in the north, but dwells among the Indians during the dancing- 

 season, dislikes people who are unclean, or such as have had inter- 

 course with women. The young man who is going to give the winter 



ceremonial is called the ye'- 

 wix'ila. 



At this meeting, the father- 

 in-law calls one of his sj)eak- 

 ers, who must step into the 

 middle of the house, holding a 

 pole, which is from 6 to 8 feet 

 long. It is called the winter- 

 dance pole. 

 The sjDeaker delivers a 

 speech, in which he sets forth the amount of property represented by 

 the pole, and announces the intention of the father in-law to give it to 

 the young man. He asks the latter to step up to the pole and touch it, 

 as a sign of acceptance. The whole assembly join in this demand, and 

 the young man, accompanied by a chief — who is paid for this service 

 later on — steps up to the pole. The chief who speaks for the young 

 man asks the father-in-law what the pole represents, and the latter's 

 speaker sets forth once more the amount of property, such as blankets, 

 copper bracelets, food, and grease, which is to be used in the dance. 



Fig. 150. 



CLAPPER OF ME'ILA. 



Length, 9i inches 



IV A, No. 1005, Roya! Ethnographical Museum, Berl; 

 Jacobsen. 



Fig. 151. 



HEAD RINGS OF MA'MAQ'A OF THE LA'LASIQOALA. 



IV A, No. 6,sfi4, Royal Ethiio-raijhical Museum, Berlin. Collected by F. Boas. 



Then the chief representing the young man takes the pole, lays it over 

 his shoulder, and runs around the fire, stooping and crying, " Whoo! 

 whoo! whoo!" The meaning of this action is that the weight of the 

 property represented by the pole is too heavy for him to carry. Then 

 he sings the following song:' 



The Spirit of the Winter Dance came dovrn, 



The Spirit of the Winter Dance came down and stays here with me. 



Then the master of the ceremonies rises and orders everyone to 

 bathe early in the morning for four days before the crows begin to cry, 



' Appendix, page 718, 



