nelson] 



"inviting-in" and "asking" 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 "asking" festival 



The Asking 

 Michael, takes 

 of November, when 

 water along the coast 

 their winter stores. 

 Tutu'-uk, or the "going 

 the hunters and large boys 

 the kashim and remove all 

 then blacks his face with a mix 

 oil and i3aints his body with 

 the then takes a wooden dish in his 

 lug and making all strrts of discord 

 go out in single file and pass from house 

 until every one in the village has been 

 ^he women are all at home on this night, 

 who is the head of a family has a large tub 

 ries and other food ready. The procession of 



Fig. 13»— Wand ^^^^ boyS filCS iuto Cach house, all holding- 

 used luAaklug their dishes while they stamp their feet and 

 testivai (4). utier grunting sounds. The women at every house 

 l)lace 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 lioor 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 and bodies with urine and, giving 

 some of the food to the old men, all sit down to the feast. A^ext day a 

 wand, called ai-yd'-gUlk, 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 wands. 



festival, Aiya'-g'uk, 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 

 around." Soon after dark 

 in the village gather in 

 their clothing. Each 

 ture of charcoal and 

 stripes and dots; 

 hand, and, howl- 

 ant noises, all 

 to house 

 visited, 

 and each 

 of ber- 

 men 

 out 



7^ 



