242 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



to side. The dancer must not under any circumstances 

 permit his real identity to become known to the 

 spectators. He must not speak, nor cough, nor sneeze ; 

 and above all, he must not allow himself to stumble 

 and fall, for if he does he will be immediately put to 

 death. If he should be compelled to cough or sneeze, 

 as frequently happens because of the dust and the 

 suffocating heat under his mask, he springs into the 

 group of men standing near, all of whom begin instantly 

 to cough, and thus contrive to drown his voice. 



The various dances follow each other according to 

 a programme arranged beforehand by the chief of the 

 encampment, who presides over the ceremonies and 

 festivities. 



If a woman of the tribe should enter one of the 

 secret mystery huts, or should avail herself of an oppor- 

 tunity to look upon a masquerade outfit when not in 

 use, she will be punished with death. It is usual in 

 such cases for the other women to intercede with the 

 chief for her life, and he will exercise mercy in her 

 behalf if she will promise silence and will undertake 

 some work of expiation, such as to weave a hammock, 

 or braid a large palm- leaf mat. If she should refuse 

 this, or her work should prove unsatisfactory, she wiU 

 be ordered to appear at a designated spot in the woods 

 when the sun reaches a certain position in the heavens, 

 and here she will be compelled to submit herself to the 

 assembled men. If she should fail to appear as ordered, 

 the men may slay her wherever they find her and sink 

 her body in the river. But if she should flee to t] 

 mystery hut no one will enter to take her, for this 

 an asylum of refuge. If a man should betray tl 

 secret of the masquerade to a woman of the tribe, 



