654 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



Fig. 205. 

 OLALA' WHISTLE. 



Haida. 



. 89062, U. S. N. M. Col 

 J. G. Swan. 



The loLE'm dance in a two-part rhythm; their call is a sharp "h,h;" 

 their movements sudden jerks of the forearms, first the left moving up 

 to the shoulder while the right moves down, 

 and vice versa. 



The meiLa' dance in a three-part rhytlim. 

 Their headdress is a heavy ring of red cedar 

 bark, with a beaver tail standing np in its 

 middle. The ring is studded with small sticks, 

 which represent arrows (fig. 208). 



The nanesta't and honana/L correspond to the 

 no'ntsistsllaL of the Kwakiutl. When the 

 members of these societies are in a state of 

 ecstasy, they throw firebrands about and de- 

 stroy canoes, houses, and anything they can lay 

 their hands on. They carry lances like the 

 nu'LuniL. The rat- 

 tles used by all these 

 societies are round, 

 and correspond to 

 those of the Kwaki- 

 utl (figs. 209-213). 

 The insignia of 

 these societies are made of cedar bark dyed 

 red m a decoction of alder bark. For each 

 repetition of the ceremony a new ring is 

 added to the head 

 ornament of the dan- 

 cer. Those of the 

 loLE'm and olala' 

 consist of rings 

 placed one on top 

 of the other. The 

 meiLa' receives first 

 a red ring, the second 

 time a Avhite ring, 

 and so on, alternatiu| 

 together. 



There are only a limited number of places in 

 the societies, and a new member can be admit- 

 ted only when he inherits the place of a deceased 

 member, or when a member transfers his place 

 to him. If such a transfer is to take x^lace, the 

 consent of the chiefs of the clans must first be 

 obtained. Then one evening the chiefs, during 

 a feast, surround the youth and act as though they had caught the 

 spirit of the society in their hands and throw it upon the novice. If 



Fig. 206. 



OLALA' WHISTLE. 



Haidu. 



s'.DM, U. S.N. M. Vo 

 J. G. Swan. 



cted by 



His ring's are twisted 



Fig. 207. 



OLALA' WHISTLE. 



Haida. 



Collected l.^ 



Cat. No. SWISS, r. S. N. M 

 J. C. Swan. 



