E. W. HAWKES THE DANCE FESTIVALS OF THE ALASKAN ESKIMO 35 



ing the back of the room and the spectators packing themselves 

 against the walls. 



Each feast giver is garbed according to the sex of his dead 

 relative, not his own, so that some men wear women's clothes 

 and vice versa. Each bears in his right hand a wand about two 

 feet long (Kelezruk). 1 This is a small stick of wood surmounted 

 with tufts of down from ptarmigan (Okozregewik). All are 

 dressed to represent the totem to which the deceased belongs. 

 One wears a fillet and armlet of wolfskin (Egoalik); others wear 

 armlets of ermine (Tareak); still others are crowned with 

 feathers of the raven (Tulua) or the hawk (Tciakauret). 2 After 

 a short dance they withdraw and the day's ceremony is finished. 



The following day the na'skut assemble again, but they have 

 doffed their fine feathers, and are dressed in their oldest clothes. 

 The suits of the day before they carry in a grass sack. They wear 

 raincoats of sealgut tied about the waist with a belt of dogskin, 

 and enter the kasgi with eyes cast on the floor. Even in the 

 dances they keep their faces from the audience. 



This attitude of humility is in accord with Eskimo ethics. 

 They say that if they adopt a boastful air and fail to give as 

 many presents as the other na'skut they will be ashamed. So 

 they safeguard themselves in advance. 



THE RITUAL 



Advancing with downcast eyes, the naskut creep softly 

 across the kasgi and take their places before the funeral lamps. 

 Then taking out their festival garments, they slip them on. 



x The same arrangement characterizes the finger masks of the Inviting-In Dance. (Kiggi- 

 lunok), meaning wand, in southern dialect. 



1 Southern dialect. Akkizhzhigik, Ptarmigam. Tcibuviak. hawk; Tulukauguk, meaning 

 raven. 



