The social organization and the secret societies of the Kwakiutl Indians

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 Excerpt: ...go to their places, turning to the right and going around the fire. The ha'mats'as are the last to enter. They are preceded by the grizzly bear dancers, whose faces are black ened. They wear blankets, and bear claws on their hands. If there happens to be an odd number of these, one of their number goes to the rear of the house. The others remain at the door and look around among the assembly. Then they divide into two parts, forming two rows, one on each side of the door. Now the ha'mats'as enter and pass between the two rows of bear dancers, which close behind. The ha'mats'as step up to the fire and, standing side by side, face the rear of the house. There they stand for about ten minutes, during which time nobody is allowed to move. Then the master of ceremonies rises and makes a speech in a very lowvoice, in which he warns the people to be careful and not to offend the ha'mats'as. The latter turn to the right and walk slowly to the rear Fig. 155. D'e'ntsiq. Height, 7 feet; black, white. IV A, No. Royal Ethnographical Muaeum Berlin. Collected by A. Jaeobawn. of the house, holding their blankets in a fold over their arms, which are held at some distance from their chest. If any one coughs after the ha'mats'as have entered, the bear steps up to him and threatens him. The offender must give a feast to the seal society; sometimes also to the que'qutsa. The ha'mats'as sit down in the middle of the rear of the house. Next to them on both sides sit the bear dancers; next to these the other groups of the seal society. Then the master of ceremonies asks the four messengers who went to invite the members of the lower grades of the seal society to fetch tallow and white cedar bark. The four men rise together and A'Lo'lsEla says: "We go to lift our grandfather f...