32 UNIVERSITY MUSEUM ANTHROPOLOGICAL PUBLICATION VOL. VI 



The Annual Feast is celebrated after the Bladder Feast 

 during the December moon. By the Yukon tribes it is repeated 

 just before the opening of spring. During the day of the festival 

 a taboo is placed on all work in the village, particularly that done 

 with any sharp pointed tool which might wound some wandering 

 ghost and bring retribution on the people. 



At midday the whole village gathers in the kasgi, and the 

 ceremony begins. Soon the mourners enter bearing great bowls 

 of food and drink which they deposit in the doorway. Then 

 the chorus leader arises and begins the song of invitation accom- 

 panied by the relatives of the dead. It is a long minor chant, 

 a constant reiteration of a few well worn phrases. 



"Tukomalra-a-, tung lik-a, tis-ka-a a-a-yung-a-a-yung-a, etc. 



Dead ones, next of kin, come hither, 



Tuntum komuga thetamtatuk, moqkapik thetamtatuk moqsulthka. 



Reindeer meat we bring you, water we bring you for your thirst." 



When the song is completed the mourners arise, and going 

 to the food in the doorway set it on the planks over the fireplace, 

 after which they take a ladleful from each dish pouring it through 

 the cracks in the floor, and the essence of this offering supplies 

 the shades below with food until the next festival. The remainder 

 of the food is distributed among those present. When the feast 

 is over, the balance of the day is given over to songs and dances. 

 Then the spirits are sent back to their homes by the simple 

 expedient of stamping on the floor. 



