MURDOCH. ] GAMES—FESTIVALS. 365 
roughly carved, with flat bellies. The largest of these is 1:3 inches 
long and the smallest 0-8 inch. These were purchased at Plover Bay, 
s ] ; 
eastern Siberia, during our brief visit in August, 1881, and were sup- 
Fic. 364.—Game of fox and geese, from Plover Bay. 
posed to be merely works of art. I was, however, very much interested 
on my return to Washington to find that Dr. Franz Boas had brought 
from Cumberland Gulf a number of precisely similar images, which are 
there used for playing a game of the nature of “‘jackstones.” The player 
tosses up a handful of these images, and 
scores points for the number that sit up- 
right when they fall.! It is therefore quite 
likely that they are used for a similar pur- 
pose at Plover Bay. Ifthis be so, it is a re- 
markable point of similarity between these 
widely separated Eskimo, for I can learn 
nothing of a similar custom at any interme- 
diate point. 
Festivals.—The most important festivals 
are apparently semireligious in character and 
partake strongly of the nature of dramatic 
representations. At these festivals they 
make use of many articles of dress and 
adornment, not worn on other occasions, 
and even some “properties” and mechani- 
‘val contrivances to add to the dramatic 
effect. All festivals are accompanied by 
singing, drumming, and dancing. 
At the formal festivals, in the early winter, 
the performers are dressed in new deerskin 
clothing, with the snow-white flesh side 
outward, and in certain parts of the perform- Fie. 365.—Dancing cap. 
ance wear on their heads tall conical caps covered with rows of 
mountain sheep teeth which rattle as the wearer dances. 
We brought home one of these dancing caps (ki/bri, kiluka’) 
(No. 89820 [863] Fig. 365), made of deerskin with the hair inward and 
' This game is briefly referred to by Hall, Arctic Researches, p. 570. 
