XVI BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



to conceal it and give an air of realism to the performance. 

 The screen is painted with appropriate symbols tending 

 to heighten the illusion to the childlike minds of the 

 andience, and it is perforated to permit the passage of 

 masked effigies representing the mystical potencies, which 

 are operated by shamans hidden behind the screen, some- 

 thing after the fashion of marionettes. The front of the 

 stage is occupied by a symbolized field of corn ; it is the 

 role of the symbolized potencies representing storm and 

 drought to emerge from their respective aj^ertures in the 

 screen and destroy the symbolic cornfield ; but they are 

 opposed in part by musical and other incantations of a 

 grou|) of shamans occupying one side of the stage, and in 

 part by human actors who wrestle with and finally over- 

 come the evil marionettes. The entire dramatization 

 stands on a higher plane than that prevalent among most 

 of the tribes of the territory of the United States, though 

 lower than that reached among the Nahuatlan and Mayan 

 peoples, and reveals various connecting links between 

 primitive dramaturgy and theatrical representation 

 proper. A specially significant feature of the perform- 

 ance is the role assigned to human actors in boldly defying, 

 and eventually overcoming, the powers of darkness and 

 evil ; for this esthetic feature reflects a noteworthy aspect 

 of industrial development. Dr Fewke's detailed descrip- 

 tions, with the attendant photographs and drawings, are 

 published in another part of this report. 



Work in Technology 



As has been indicated in earlier reports, the researches 

 of the last decade have shown that the esthetic motives 

 of primitive peoples arise in symbolism ; and, as was noted 

 in one or two recent reports on the work, various indica- 

 tions have been found that industrial motives similarly 

 arise in symbolism connected with zootheistic faith. The 

 suggestive phase of industrial development is that in which 

 teeth, horns, claws, mandibles, and other animal organs 

 are used as implements or weapons in a manner imitating 



