﻿NO. 10 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, 1 923 



121 



Throughout the general culture of the Makah is seen the influence 

 of the " caste system " and the keeping of slaves. Many acts were 

 permitted only to the " first families " and forbidden to the " lower 

 classes." In former times a prominent Makah owned at least 12 

 slaves usually obtained from other tribes in exchange for the various 

 products that resulted from his successful whaling. These products 

 included whale meat, oil, blubber, and bone. The possession of slaves 

 aflfected the position of women, as they were relieved of much arduous 

 labor. This enabled them to spend more time on their personal appear- 

 ance and to enter more fully into an enjoyment of their children. A 



Fig. 117. — Makah singing on beach. Pacihc Ocean in distance. (Photograph 

 by Miss Densmore.) 



woman who was careful of her appearance washed her hair and mas- 

 saged her face and body every day. Men as well as women rubbed 

 their bodies with cedar bark fiber or with fine hemlock branches, the 

 men following this with prayers for physical strength. Occasionally 

 the women also desired great strength. 



Two ideals were noted in this tribe, personal beauty in the women 

 and physical strength in the men, and we find also a certain grace in 

 social intercourse. For instance, each person at a feast was expected 

 to sing a " gratitude song " before his or her departure and there were 

 many songs, sung at social gatherings, in which men and women 

 expressed an admiration for each other. A charming custom was that 

 of " lullabv singing " bv the older women which was alwavs followed 



