ili THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ETH. ANN. 18 
These customs, with certain variations, are still observed. At St 
Michael I saw a father’s grave marked with his totem picture, while 
on the grave box of his son close by was the picture of the animal 
which the father had excelled in hunting. 
When the grave with its various belongings is arranged, the rela- 
tives make small offerings of food of different kinds, and pour water on 
the ground beside it, after which all go home. 
During the day on which a person dies in the village no one is per- 
mitted to work, and the relatives must perform no labor during the 
three following days. It is especially forbidden during this period to - 
cut with any edged instrument, such as a knife or an ax; and the use 
of pointed instruments, like needles or bodkins, is also forbidden. This 
is said to be done to avoid cutting or injuring the shade, which may be 
present at any time during this period, and, if accidentally injured by 
any of these things, it would become very angry and bring sickness or 
death to the people. The relatives must also be very careful at this 
time not to make any loud or harsh noises that may startle or anger 
the shade. 
In ancient times the Unalit of this vicinity exposed their dead on 
the open tundra back of the village, throwing their weapons and tools 
beside them. It was the custom to lay the body at full length on its 
back and plant two sticks about three feet long, one on each side of the 
head, so that they would cross over the face. The old man who told 
me this said that everyone used to be thrown on the ground in this 
manner, but he thought that it was from seeing the grave boxes made 
for the dead in other places that the Unalit had been led to adopt the 
present custom. The use of grave boxes undoubtedly came from the 
south, as it was observed that their greatest elaboration was found 
south of the territory occupied by the Unalit, while to the northward 
the Malemut still throw out many of their dead. My informant added 
that it was better to keep the dead in grave boxes, for it kept their 
shades from wandering about as they used to do; besides, it was bad 
to have the dogs eat the bodies. 
If the deceased was a hunter, the totem of his father was usually 
painted on his grave box at the time of the burial, but if he was not a 
hunter this totem picture was not made on the box until the stake of 
invitation to the feast of the dead was planted by the grave the follow- 
ing winter, (See account of festivals to the dead.) If the person was 
disliked, or was without relatives to make a feast, no totem markings 
were put on the box. If he was a very bad man he was buried in a box, 
while food and water were offered to the shade; but no weapons or 
other marks of respect were placed beside the grave, no feast was made 
to his memory, and he was forgotten. 
About eight miles from the village of Kigiktauik I saw the remains 
of a body with a sled. My Eskimo companions told me it was the 
body of a man who had died in the village from a loathsome disease, 
