dall] KANIAGMUT MASKETTE 129 



the feathers are inserted the stems of nine semilunar bits of carved 

 wood, of which one is figured on an enlarged scale, which are whitened 

 and ornamented with a pattern of lines and dots. The presence of these 

 appendages on this mask explains the purpose of the myriads of leaf- 

 shaped and variously formed appendages which was discovered in the 

 rubbish of the Unga rock-shelter. Taken by themselves, having lost 

 all connection with their originals, most of which had become dust or 

 so broken as to be unrecognizable, these little articles were incompre- 

 hensible. 



Behind the disk of this maskette was a strong arch-shaped hoop, to 

 which strips of skin from the neck of the winter reindeer, with the long 

 hair attached, were fastened to form a sort of aureole or fringe. Three 

 of the supports of the hoop project beyond the fringe, and to each is 

 attached by a sinew-thread' a leaf-shaped appendage. In use, these 

 hang down and move with the motion of the wearer, but in the figure, 

 for the sake of clearness, they are represented as pointing outward; one 

 is represented on an enlarged scale. The attachment of such swinging 

 or pendulous pieces to the head-dress, mask, or garment used in the 

 dance was universal. The response of their motion to the swaying of 

 the wearer's body in time with the tambourine in the dance was justly 

 considered graceful and attractive, as was the swaying of the fringes 

 and feathers. 



INNUIT MASKS FROM THE KUSKOKWIM RIVER. 



No. 64241. — Dancing mask from the Innuit of the Kuskokwim River, 

 collected by E. W. Nelson ; nearly flat, circular, with white goose feathers 

 inserted into holes around the outer edge, aud supported behind by a 

 small wooden hoop. The face, in the center, is regularly formed ; the 

 eyes, nostrils, and mouth perforated. The disk is 14 inches in diam- 

 eter, exclusive of feathers. Mouth furnished with natural teeth, proba- 

 bly of a dog. Four rude animal heads, about 2 inches long, are in- 

 serted at equal distances from each other near the margin ; a black circle 

 is painted outside of the face. The groundwork of the mask is white; 

 the relief around the face, thehair, etc., is colored adull green, the outer 

 edge of nostrils and a broad mustache, are black. Two hands, about 

 7 inches long, are pegged to the front outer margin ; there is a hole 

 through the centerof each, and they are roughly colored red. The mask 

 projects in relief about 3 inches. 



No. 61244. — Kuskokwim Eiver Innuit dancing mask, collected by Mr. 

 E. W. Nelson. Disk of the mask about 8 inches in diameter. Margin 

 fringed with deer hair, much destroyed by moths. Two hoops of 

 wood exterior to the disk probably once supported a fringe of feathers. 

 Five or six small wooden appeudages, shaped like the blade of a pad- 

 3 eth — 9 



