NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



to wearers of masks among savage peoples everywhere, yet the 

 details of the origin and symbolism of the Iroquois masks is quite 

 different from anything reported from the coast of northwest 

 America. Moreover, it appears to be certain that the use of masks 

 among the people of the Mississippi basin and the Atlantic water- 

 shed was rare, and formed no prominent feature of their festivals 

 or customs. Dall, 3 : 145 



Many accounts of the False Faces as a society have appeared, but 

 Morgan's was the first and covered most points. There were early 

 stories of bodiless flying heads, of whom the masks were representa- 

 tives. These had wonderful powers, and on these were based that 

 secret organization found now in every Iroquois village. Morgan 

 said: 



This society has a species of initiation and regular forms, cere- 

 monies and dances. . . If any one dreamed he was a False 

 Face, it was only necessary to signify his dream to the proper per- 

 son, and give a feast, to be at once initiated ; and so any one dream- 

 ing that he had ceased to be a False Face, had but to make known 

 his dream and give a similar entertainment to effect his exodus. 

 In no other way could a membership be acquired or surrendered. 

 Upon all occasions on which the members appeared in character 

 they wore false faces of the kind represented in the figure, the masks 

 being diversified in color, style and configuration, but all agreeing 

 in their equally hideous appearance. The members were all males 

 save one, who was a female, and the Mistress of the Band. She 

 was called Ga-go-sd Ho-nun-nas-tase-ta, or the keeper of the False 

 Faces ; and not only had charge of the regalia of the band, but was 

 the only organ of communication with the members, for their names 

 continued unknown. The prime motive in the establishment of this 

 organization was to propitiate those demons called False Faces, and 

 among other good results to arrest pestilence and disease. In course 

 of time the band itself was believed to have a species of control over 

 diseases. . . When any one was sick with a complaint within 

 the range of their healing powers, and dreamed that he saw a False 

 Face, this was interpreted to signify that through their instru- 

 mentality he was to be cured. Having informed the mistress of 

 the band, and prepared the customary feast, the False Faces at once 

 appeared, preceded by their female leader, and marching in Indian 

 file. Each one wore a mask or false face, a tattered blanket over 

 his shoulders, and carried a turtle-shell rattle in his hand. On 

 entering the house of the invalid, they first stirred the ashes upon 

 the hearth, and then sprinkled the patient over with hot ashes until 

 his head and hair were covered ; after which they performed some 



