540 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



Their initiatioii is called kne'xalak". Those who are initiated by the 

 kiie'xalak" ceremonies are called g-ixsCg-i, that means, leaning against 

 the wall of the ma'wiL. In most cases they retnrn from their initia- 

 tions during the festivals celebrated to bring back a novice of the 

 la'xsa, Sometimes, however, while the people are assembled at a 

 feast, the wi'xsa or kne'xalak" novice is taken away by the spirits, and 

 then his father announces that four days hence he will be brought 

 back. He calls the master of ceremonies of the kue/xalak", who wears 

 a head ring ornamented with five feathers, — one in front, one on each 

 side, and two in the back. His face is painted red. He enters 

 and begins to go around the tire, swinging his baton from the elbow. 

 When he reaches the rear of the house, he turns around, swinging his 

 stick, and then gives one rap on a board, crying at the same time 

 "ha'mamamama" (very rapidly). As soon as he does so, all the peo- 

 j)le strike the boards. Meanwhile the master of ceremonies turns 

 around, strikes the board again, crying " hamamai'." Again all the peo- 

 ple strike the boards together and cry "ha'mamamama." These cries 

 represent the sounds made by the ghosts. The master of ceremonies 

 continues his circuit, swinging his baton all the time. When he reaches 

 the door, he turns again and proceeds. When he reaches the rear of 

 the house the second time, the same ceremony is repeated. He con- 

 tinues his circuit in the same way as before. When he reaches the rear 

 of the house the third time, he turns and cries "yehee"' and gives a 

 rap on the boards ; then all the people cry " yehee/hoooo." This repre- 

 sents the sound of the wolf. While the people are l>eating time the 

 master of ceremonies turns again and then strikes the boards, crying 

 "yehee," drawing out the last syllable as long as possible. Then the 

 people strike the boards all at the same time and repeat his cry. 



The master of ceremonies goes around the fire the fourth time, and 

 when he reaches the rear of the house, he turns and cries " wowowo " or 

 "woe'p." Then the people beat time and say "kf" (the f drawn out 

 very long). This is the sound of Hai'alik'ila. During this time the 

 whistles of the ghosts are heard continuously. 



When the master of ceremonies turns the last time, he smiles at the 

 people, strikes the board, and cries " wo,'' to which all the people reply 

 "hJia." The ceremonies of this evening are called IdL. 



Now the chief steps forward and says, "This is finished, friends; 

 bring in your boxes." ^ While he remains standing, those people who 

 are willing to bring boxes leave the house and soon return carrying 

 them on their shoulders. The lids and ropes of the boxes are thrown 

 into the fire. The boxes are placed in a row in the rear of the house, the 

 openings turning backward. Then the ye'wix-ila asks one of his rela- 

 tives or his daughter to dance. He holds a large staffin his hand, which 

 is called qa/sop'eq or " feast staff." He promises to celebrate the winter 

 dance; and calling up his father-in-law says that he was compelled to 



' Wa nenEmo'k", g-a/xLiixis t'a'miatse Laos iicnEuio'k". 



