NELSON] MASKS AND MASK FESTIVALS 395 



Shamans are believed to have the power of seeing through the 

 , animal mask to the manlike features behind. The ideas held on this 



v 



subject are well illustrated in the Eaven legends, where the changes 

 are made repeatedly from one form to another. 



Masks may also represent totemic animals, and the wearers during 

 the festivals are believed actually to become the creature represented or 

 at least to be endowed with its spiritual essence. Some of the masks 

 of the lower Yukon and the adjacent territory to the Kuskokwim are 

 made with double faces. This is done by having the muzzle of the 

 animal fitted over and concealing the face of the inua below, the outer 

 mask being held in place by pegs so arranged that it can be removed, 

 quickly at a certain time in the ceremony, thus symbolizing the trans- 

 formation. 



Another style of mask from the lower Kuskokwim has the under face 



concealed by a small hinged door on each side, which opens out at the 



proper time in a ceremony, indicating the metamorphosis. When the 



/ mask represents a totemic animal, the wei rer needs no double face, 



since he represents in jjerson the shade of the totemic animal. 



When worn in any ceremonial, either as a totem miask or as represent- 

 ing the shade, yu-(t or tunghdJc, the wearer is believed to become myste- 

 y/ riously and unconsciously imbued with the spirit of the being which his 

 mask represents, just as the namesakes are entered into and possessed 

 by the shades at certain parts of the Festival to the Dead. 



In connection with the collection of masks obtained it is interesting 

 that a number of them have wooden models of thumbless hands 

 attached to their sides, the palms of the hands being i)ierced with large, 

 ^ circular holes; these are usually found on masks representing birds, 

 beasts, and spirits, having some connection with making game more or 

 less plentiful. I am inclined to think that the holes in the palms indi- 

 cate that the being will not hold the game, but will let it pass through 

 to the earth. 



Many of the masks from this region are very complicated, having 

 numerous appendages of feathers and carved woodj these either rep- 

 resent limbs or are symbolic. The masks are also painted to represent 

 features or ideas connected with the mythology of the being. 



Mask festivals are usually held as a species of thanksgiving to the 

 shades and jjowers of earth, air, and water for giving the hunters suc- 

 cess. The inuas or shades of the powers and creatures of the earth 

 are represented that they may be propitiated, thus insuring further 

 success. Unfortunately, I failed to secure the data by which the entire 

 significance of customs and beliefs connected with masks can be solved 

 satisfactorily. I trust, however, that the present notes, with the expla- 

 nations and descriptions of the- masks, may serve as a foundation for 

 more successful study of these subjects in the future ; the field is now 

 open, but in a few years the customs of this people will be so modi- 

 fied that it will be difficult to obtain reliable data. When the Eskimo 



