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 
subject are well illustrated in the Raven 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 smal) 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 wecrer needs no double face, 
since he represents in person the shade of the totemic animal. 
When worn in any ceremonial, either as a totem mask or as represent- 
ing the shade, yu-d or tunghdk, the wearer is believed to become myste- 
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. 
Tn 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 pierced 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 wood; 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 powers of earth, air, and water for giving the hunters sue- 
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 seeure 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 
