439 



detail, it may be mentioned that it contained thirteen complete 



California ; and two detached skulls. 



None of the material showed any signs of civilized influences, 

 all was of indigenous production, either native to the islands, or 

 derived from inter-native traffic or drift wood. The latter com- 

 prised a few pieces of pine resin and bark, birch bark, and frag- 

 ments of reindeer skin from Aliaska Pe 1 1 



It will thus be seen that this is one of the most important addi- 

 tions to our knowledge of the prehistoric condition of these 

 people. So far as the specimens differed from those in use in 

 more modern times they resembled more nearly the implements in 

 use among the Eskimo of the mainland. The remains are all 

 those of true aboriginal Aleuts. 



The Kaniagmut Eskimo, inhabiting the peninsula of Aliaska, 

 the Kadiak archipelago and the islands south of the peninsula, 

 added, to the practice of mummifying the dead, the custom of 

 preparing the remains in some cases in natural attitudes, dressing 

 them in elaborately ornamented clothing sometimes with wooden 

 armor, and carved masks. They were represented, women as 

 serving or nursing children : hunters in the chase, seated in canoes 

 and transfixing wooden effigies of the animals they were wont to 

 pursue ; old men beating the tambourine, their recognized employ- 

 ment at all the native festivals. During the mystic dances, for- 

 merly practised before a stuffed image, the dancers wore a wooden 

 mask which had no eye-holes, but was so arranged that they could 

 only see the ground at their feet. At a certain moment they 

 thought that a spirit, whom it was death or disaster to look upon, 

 descended into the idol. Hence the protection of the mask. A 

 similar idea led them to protect the dead man, gone to the haunts 



dances were over the temporary idol was destroyed. 



We found many relics of this practice in .the Unga Caves. 

 In Kadiak still another custom was in vogue. Those natives 

 hunted the whale formed a peculiar caste by themselves. 



descended i n families and the bodies of successful hunters were 



