THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS. 



659 



Cat. Ni 



rt.-cl by 



begun. He lias a spoou and adish of his own. These are wound withred 



cedar bark. Those who have formerly been olala' are the servants of 



the new member of the society and bring him food. When he hears 



the word lo'lEk (ghost), he grows excited and 



begins to bite again. After he ceases to bite 



and to devour human flesh, a heavy ring of red 



cedar bark is placed around his neck, and he 



is led slowly around the fire. The ceremony is 



called "nuiking him heavy" (sEp'a'lyix), and 



means that he is by this weight prevented from 



flying away and growing excited again. After 



his initiation he must stay in his room for a 



whole year. After biting, he must chew the 



bark of "devil's club" (woo'mst), which acts 



as a purgative. 



I received the following description from the 



Tsimshian. It seems that their customs and 



those described before are practically identical. 

 During the dancing season a feast is given, 



and while the women are dancing the novice 



is suddenly said to have disappeared. It is 



supposed that he goes to heaven. If he is a 



child, he stays away four days ; youths remain 



about six days, and grown-up persons several 



months. Chiefs are supposed to stay in heaven during the fall and the 



entire winter. When this period has elapsed, they suddenly reappear 

 near the beach, carried by an artificial monster 

 belonging to their crest. Then all the members 

 of the secret society to wliich the novice is to 

 belong gather and walk down in grand proces- 

 sion to the beach to fetch the child. At this time 

 his parents bring presents, particularly elk skins, 

 strung upon a rope as long as the procession, to 

 be given at a subsequent feast. The people sur- 

 round the novice and lead him into every house 

 in order to show that he has returned. Then he 

 is taken to the house of his parents, and a large 

 bunch of red cedar bark is fastened over the door 

 to show that the house is tabooed and nobody 

 is allowed to enter. The chief sings while the 

 cedar bark is being fastened. In the afternoon 

 the sacred house is prepared for the dance. A 

 section in the rear of the house is divided ofi" by 



means of curtains; it is to serve as a stage on which the dancers and 



the novice appear. When all is ready, messengers, carrying large 



carved batons, are sent around to invite the members of the society, the 



WOODEN RATTLE REPKKSENTING A 

 SHELL. 



Tlingit. 



14333, U. S. N.M. 

 .7. J. McLean. 



Fig. 214. 



MASK REPRESENTING THE 

 SPIRIT OF SLEEP. 



Tsimshian. 



KroTii .% sketch made at the Worlil's 

 Columbian Exposition. 



