506 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



The four meu who went to fetch the seal society enter first. Those 

 who went to fetch the hfi'mats'as follow them. Before they enter, the 

 people who are assembled in the house clear their throats, as they are 

 not allowed to cough or to laugh after the seal society have entered. 

 When the messengers enter, A'Lo'lsEla says, " Our friends are coming.'" 



Now Nfiwulqa'lag-ilis says, "Take care, 

 our great friends are coming.'"- 



Tben the four men who called the seals sit 

 down in the left-hand front corner of the 

 house, the others in the right-hand front 

 corner. Now everybody looks at the door 

 where the fool dancers (noo'uLEmaLa) enter 

 first. They strike the door with their swords 

 or lances, open it, and stand in the doorway. 

 Tlieir faces are blackened, they wear torn and 

 soiled clothing. Tlieir heads are strewed 

 with eagle down. If anyone laughs or 

 coughs, the fool dancer steps up to him and 

 threatens him with his sword or lance. Then 

 the fool dancers turn one by oiie, go to the 

 right around the fire, and sit down on their 

 seats. Their jilaces are at both ends of those 

 of the seal society, as they are the guards 

 of the society. Then all the other mem- 

 bers of the society enter, each group by 

 themselves, and each dressed in their proper 

 ornaments of red cedar bark. They stand 

 in the doorway for a short time, and then 

 go to their places, turning to the right and 

 going around the fire. The ha/mats'as are 

 the last to enter. They are i)receded by the 

 grizzly bear dancers, whose faces are black 

 ened. They wear blankets, and bear claws 

 on their hands. If there happens to be an 

 odd number of these, one of their number 

 goes to the rear of the house. The others re- 

 main at the door and look around among the 

 assembly. Then they divide into two parts, 

 forming two rows, one on each side of the 

 door. Now the ha'mats'as enter and i^ass between the two rows of bear 

 dancers, which close behind. The ha'mats'as step up to the fire and, 

 standing side by side, face the rear of the house. There they stand for 

 about ten minutes, during which time nobody is- allowed to move. 

 Then the master of ceremonies rises and makes a speech in a very low 

 voice, in which he warns the people to be careful and not to offend 

 the ha'mats'as. The latter turn to the right and walk slowly to the rear 



Fig. 155. 



D'E'NTSfQ. 



Height, 7 feet ; black, white 



IV A, No. 1129, Royal Ethnographical Mii 

 Berlin. Collected by A. Jacobsen, 



'G'ii'x'am g'liis ncnEmo'kuiX, pcpaxalai'. 



'^ We, q'a'qauieLax, pepaxalai' g'fi'x'am g'ln nenKiuoktsek*. 



