G28 



REPORT OK NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



the whole tribe assembles, aud when all are seated iu the house, the 

 host sings his secret Lao'laxa soiig. He is followed by the novice, 

 who also sings a secret song, and dances, wearing the headdress with 

 ermine trail. Again he throws off his headdress, runs out. and a dancer 

 appears who wears the Lao'laxa mask. After his dance the novice reap- 



Fig. 195. 



LAO'LAXA MASK BEPKESENTING THE KILLEK WHALE. 



Scale i; black, red, white. 



'y A, N,.,. hl-r., U..y,.il Kthnographkal Museum, Berlin. Collected l,y A. J:u-ol,.se„. 



pears and continues his dance. Then the host steps forward, and in a 

 speech gives the dancer the name belonging- to the mash. This is the 

 end ot the LacVlaxa proper, and the whistles are heard no longer. At 

 some festivals a number of masked persons, who represent speakers, 

 come in at this moment and take hold of the host. Upon being asked 



