NELSON] SHADES OF THE DEAD 425 



it receives the offerings of food, water, aud clothing that are cast on 

 the floor. Then is rendered the song that announces the presence of 

 the namesake, at which the shade enters the form of that person. 



The feast giver then removes the new suit of clothing he wears for the 

 purpose and places it upon the namesake, and in doing this the shade 

 becomes newly clothed; the food offerings given to the namesake dur- 

 ing this festival are in the same way believed to be really given to the 

 dead. When this ceremony is finished the shade is dismissed back to 

 the land of the dead. During these festivals the shades present, below 

 the floor of the kashim, are supposed to enjoy the songs and dances 

 equally with the living. Songs and dances praising the exploits of the 

 dead are supposed to be especially pleasing to them. 



If a person dies without anyone to make a festival for him, or to 

 obtain a namesake, he is forgotten and can never return to these festi- 

 vals, but must live as the poor and friendless live upon the earth. The 

 shades of all animals are believed to be formed like people, and many 

 kinds are supposed to be able to talk with one another and at times are 

 able to understand the speech of men. The shades of game animals 

 must be propitiated in many ways by offerings and by feasts and 

 dances, as in the Bladder festival. 



It is believed that in ancient times all animals had the power to 

 change their forms at will. When they wished to become people they 

 merely pushed up the muzzle or beak in front of the head and changed 

 at once into man-like beings. The muzzle of the animal then remained 

 like a cap on top of the head, or it might be removed altogether, and 

 in order to become an animal again it had only to pull it down. Some 

 animals are still claimed to possess this power, but when they change 

 into people they become invisible except to shamans or others endowed 

 with mystic powers. 



GENESIS MYTH — THE RAVEN FATHER 



The belief referred to is well illustrated in the raven tales, where the 

 changes are repeatedly made by the characters. In this belief rests the 

 foundation of the mask dances of the Eskimo. The creation of the 

 earth and everything upon it is credited to the Raven Father [Tu-lu'- 

 kau-guk)^ who is said to have come from the sky and made the earth 

 when everything was covered with water. During a large part' of the 

 timie he retained the form of a raven and changed to a man at will by 

 pushing up his beak. The raven legends hereafter given render a 

 detailed statement regarding this matter superfluous here. 



It should be added, however, that the part played by the raven, as 

 stated in the creation legend, is believed by the Eskimo from Kusko- 

 kwim river northward to Bering strait and well around on the Arctic 

 coast. By these legends it will be seen that the Eaven came from the 

 sky, where he had a father and where dwarf people were living, aud 



