138 b 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OP CANADA. 



Human and 

 bird masks. 



Rattles. 



represent human faces, the second those representing birds. Figures 

 1, 2 and 3 represent the first class, Fig. 5 the second. They are carved 

 in wood. Those of the first class are usually large enough amply to 

 cover the face. In some cases they are very neatly made, generally 

 to represent an ordinary Indian type of face without any grotesque 

 idea. The relief of the work is generally a little lower than in nature. 

 Straps of leather, fastened to the sides of the mask, are provided to 

 go round the head of the wearer, or a small loop of cedar-hark string 

 is fixed in the hollow side of the mask, to be grasped by the teeth. 

 The top of the forehead is usually fringed with down, hair or feathers. 

 The eyes are pierced to enable the wearer to look out, and the mouth 

 is also often cut through, though sometimes solid, and representing 

 teeth. Grotesque masks are also made in this style, but none were 

 observed to have a smiling or humourous expression. The painting 

 of the masks is, according to taste, in bars and lines, or the peculiar 

 curved lines with ej^e-like ovals found so frequently in the designs 

 of the coast Indians. The painting of the two sides of the face is 

 rarely symmetrical, a circumstance not arising from any want of 

 skill, but intentionally brought about. Of the second class of masks, 

 representing birds, there are various kinds. One obtained at the Klue 

 Village had a beak five or six feet long projecting from the centre 

 of a mask not much unlike those above described. The beak was 

 painted red, and the whole evidently intended to represent the oyster- 

 catcher common on the coast. Another mask represents the head o± a 

 puffin, (Fig. 5) and is very well modelled. It is too small within, 

 however, to allow the head to enter, and must have been worn fixed 

 to the top of the head. 



Eattles are also used chiefly in dancing. These are of two principal 

 types. First and most usual are plain spheroidal or oval rattles, gene- 

 rally considerably flattened in shape. They are carved in wood with 

 great neatness, the wood beine; sometimes reduced to a uniform and 

 very small thickness throughout. Each is made in two pieces, which 

 are fixed together generally by small threads of sinew passed through 

 holes in their edges. Small round pebbles from the beach are placed 

 within. The representation of a human face, which may be plain or 

 coloured, according to the maker's taste, is generally found on each 

 side of these rattles, though some are almost entirely plain. Eattles 

 of this sort are represented in figures 16 and 17. The second species 

 of rattle is much more elaborate in form, is highly prized, and appar- 

 ently used only by persons of some distinction. These are made in 

 the form of a bird, the handle being in a position corresponding with 

 the bird's tail. Accessory carving of a very elaborate character is 

 sometimes found on these rattles, which can scarcely be described at 



