NELSON] 



&quot;INVITING-IN&quot; AND &quot;ASKING&quot; FESTIVALS 



359 



their will. The object of these faces is to propitiate and do honor to 

 the animals or beings represented by them, and thus to bring- about 

 plenty of game during the coming year and to ward off evil influences. 

 The inuas or shades of the various animals are invited and are sup 

 posed to be present and enjoy the songs and dances, with the food and 

 drink offerings, given in their honor. The masks are burned at the 

 conclusion of the ceremonies, and should a man sell his mask he must 

 replace it with wood in about equal amount for the sacrificial fire which 

 takes place subsequent to the ceremony. This 

 festival is held usually in January or February 

 of each year. Although I was not able to 

 witness one of these observances, many of 

 the masks used in them were obtained. 



THE &quot;ASKING&quot; FESTIVAL 



The Asking 

 Michael, takes 

 of November, when 

 water alon g the coast 

 their winter stores. 



festival, Ai-ya -g ult, observed a St 

 place each year after the middle 

 the fish have left the shallow 

 and the people have gathered 

 The first night is called 



&amp;gt; 



V 



Tu-tu -uk, or the &quot;-going 



the hunters and large boys 



the kashim and remove all 



then blacks his face with a mix 



oil and paints his body with 



I he then takes a wooden dish in his 



ing and making all sorts of discord 



go out in single tile and pass from house 



until every one in the village has been 



The women are all at home on this night, 



who is the head of a family has a large tub 



ries aud other food ready. The procession of 

 FIG. 139 wami ail( i boys files into each house, all holding 

 use a iu Askiug their dishes while they stamp their feet and 



utter grunting sounds. The women at every house 

 place food in each of the dishes, and when the round is completed 

 all return to the kashim, shouting and stamping. While in the house 

 their faces are kept turned toward the floor so that they shall not be 

 recognized. Outside the children follow them from house to house, 

 shouting and making a great outcry. When they return to the kashim 

 the soot is washed from their faces aud bodies with urine aud, giving 

 some of the food to the old men, all sit down to the feast. Next day a 

 wand, called ai-ya -g iik, is made by a man chosen for the purpose. This 

 wand has a slender, rod-like handle, with three hanging globes at the 

 outer end. Figure 139 illustrates one of these wauds. 



around.&quot; Soon after dark 

 in the village gather in 

 their clothing. Each 

 tare of charcoal and 

 stripes and dots; 

 hand, aud, howl- 

 ant noises, all 

 to house 

 vis i ted. 

 and each 

 of ber- 

 men 

 . out 



