NELSON] SHADES OF THE DEAD 425 
it receives the offerings of food, water, and 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 (7'u-lw/- 
kau-gik), 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 
time 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 Raven came from the 
sky, where he had a father and where dwarf people were living, and 
