122 MASKS AND LABRETS. 



tice of labretifery and the use of death masks, as well as the profuse 

 adornment of themselves with dancing masks for pantomimic mythic 

 ceremonies, are confined to those Innuit west of the Eocky Mountains 

 and the Colville River, and these features, especially labretifery, are 

 practically unknown to their kindred in the cast, with whom, never- 

 theless, they have annual communication for purposes of barter. 



On the other hand, the ceremonies and use of masks, particularly in 

 pantomimes, are extremely and essentially similar to those of the Tlin- 

 kit, Haida, and Makah previously described. 



The adjacent Tinneh, a weak and cowardly people, have imitated these 

 customs as they have the Innuit dress; but the inland Tinneh, two or 

 three hundred miles inland, know nothing of them. 



The use of masks among the Innuit, as elsewhere, is shanianic, pan- 

 tomimic and ceremonial ; and in some exceptional cases mortuary. 1 

 The Aleuts will be separately considered. The Innuit of Prince Will- 

 iam Sound, from the ancient masks herein described, seem to have had 

 less than the usual artistic taste and ability. However, this lot may 

 have been made for a temporary purpose with the idea of throwing them 

 away when that had been accomplished (as was a not uncommon prac- 

 tice), and therefore may not afford a fair criterion. 



From Kadiak Island northward to Norton Sound there appears to be 

 great similarity, though it is only where the whites are little known that 

 these matters retain a pristine vigor. On the Lower Kuskokwim, and 

 on the Yukon delta, especially the southern part, is a region which was 

 found by Mr. Nelson particularly rich. The collection of masks ob- 

 tained by him seems exhaustive, and is not equaled in variety and in- 

 terest in any other museum in the world. Unfortunately, his health has 

 suffered from his too great devotion to science, and he has not yet 

 found himself able to classify and describe these treasures, or this chap- 

 ter need not have been written. 



Beyond Norton Sound some very rude but curious masks were ob- 

 tained by Nelson at the Diomede Islands, Bering Strait, and at Point 

 Barrow, the northernmost extreme of Alaska, a few artistic and interest- 

 ing masks were obtained. The latter, however, judging from those col- 

 lected, are almost wholly wanting in the element of the grotesque which 

 is so rife in Bristol Bay, or the Kuskokwim and Yukon deltas. 



Further information in regard to these northern people will probabiy 



1 It seems that tbey were occasionally used as decoys, as previously noted by Meares 

 anion" the Tlinkit. Lisianski says: "Next to the otter the most valuable animal 

 in the estimation of the Kadiak men, is the species of seal or sea dog called by the 

 Russians nerpa. It is caught with nets made of the same material as the line of the 

 sea-otter arrow ; or killed when asleep; or, which is the easiest manner of taking it. 

 enticed toward the shore. A fisherman concealing the lower part of his body among 

 the rocks puts on his head a wooden cap or rather casque resembling the head of a seal 

 (Plate iii, fig. c), and makes a noise like that animal. The unsuspicious seal, im- 

 agining that he is about to meet a partner of his own species, hastens to the spot and 

 is instantly killed. (Lisianski, 1. c, p. 205). 



