114 MASKS AND LABRETS. 



dicated by some kind of furry skin, now hardly determinable, but which 

 had been cemented to the wood with spruce gum. The mask is very 

 light ami thin. There are two holes above the corners of tbe mouth, 

 into which a cord was probably pegged on the inside, to hold in the 

 teeth when worn. It was doubtless used in games or dances, and has 

 no indications of use in connection with religious or medical rites. In 

 fact it is entirely different from masks used on such occasions. It pro- 

 bably is a very accurate representation of the physiognomy of the peo- 

 ple by whom it was made and used. The figure is one fifth the linear 

 size of the original. 



2G59 (Plate XIII, fig. 18).— Mask collected by E. It. Waldron, of 

 the United States exploring expedition under Wilkes, on " the north- 

 west coast of America." Exact locality and history not stated. This 

 is a remarkable and well-executed specimen, but thick and heavy. It 

 is carved of Alaska cedar, which comes to the surface on the lighter 

 parts of the ribbed marginal band. The parts representing the face 

 are black. On the upper part of the back, on the cheeks, on and 

 between the eyebrows, on each side of the nasal septum, and on the 

 forehead are spots where bits of mica have been fastened on with 

 spruce gum. The whiskers, represented by transverse lines, the form of 

 the nose, and other features suggest that the carver may have had a sea- 

 otter in mind. There are pegs on the posterior edge whose use may 

 have been to retain a netting or lattice by which the mask was held on 

 the head. A withe, knotted and twisted, arranged to be held between 

 the wearer's teeth, is fastened to the concave interior on each side of the 

 nasal septum. The article is evidently of great age, and bears signs of 

 having been long in use. The figure is one-fifth the linear size of the 

 original. 



A very similar mask from Nahwitti, on the northwest end of Van- 

 couver Island, is figured by Bastiau (1. c. taf. 2, fig. 2), with the in- 

 formation that it is worn in the medicine dances by the so-called "wild- 

 men " who, as described by Swan, are given to assaulting the bystand- 

 ers indiscriminately, and hence are to be avoided. This mask, however, 

 is painted with red and other bright colors, and is adorned with whit- 

 ish feathers. It is said to be called " nutlematlekull." 



20892 (Plate XVII, figs. 31-32).— A dancing mask; obtained from the 

 Haidas of the Klemmahoon village, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, by 

 James G. Swan. This mask is carefully carved of Alaska cedar. The 

 ears, nostrils, lips, edges of the eyelids, and the continuous stripes across 

 the face are red. The short dashes forming a baud between the stripes 

 are lead-colored, and appear to have been made with a soft piece of 

 micaceous iron ore. The eyebrows and mustache are stripes of blue 

 blanket cloth fastened ou with pegs. Hairs from a fox-skin are pegged 

 into the chin, and it looks as if other hair might have been so fastened 

 on the upper edge of the mask. Within there is a loop of withe to be 

 held in the teeth. The mask is thin and light. 



