WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 97

forth, followed by a number of kukusiut who remain constan tly
in attendance on him.

X enters the lowest house and sits down near the door, too
heavy, with the weight of the crystals, to proceed further. He
growls persistently, while the kukusiut women present drone
monotonously, and those who have accompanied him utter
their cry of hoif. These measures at last persuade the
Cannibal to move, but only to the next house, where the same
procedure is repeated, and so for each in the village. The un-
initiated peer curiously and fearfully from their bedrooms, but
would never dream of joining in the cry of hoip. If X should
be asleep or otherwise engaged when the voices are heard, some
of his assistants awaken him and send him forth. The arrival
of strangers also excites X. One of his followers tells him of
their coming and when a canoe reaches the river, he runs down
into the water and bites as many of the newcomers as he
desires. The herald, watching the approach of the strangers
and knowing what will happen, cries out to the uninitiated to
conceal themselves prior to X’s appearance. The guests pro-
ceed to the dwelling of their host, but that evening the Can-
nibal’s father, or whoever acts for him, calls them to his house
where he gives them presents to validate the biting. If foreign-
ers have been expected, gifts are always saved for them from
the previous distribution. The value of the present depends
in part on the rank of the recipient, but more upon the feeling
of like or dislike with which X’s father regards him. A chief
naturally receives more than a person of lower rank, although
these donations are not returned.

On the morning of the fifth day of X’s retirement, some of
the kukusiut collect chamber-pots and towards noon he is
immersed in the river in the manner previously described.
Then he goes through the village four times, on each round
visiting every house. The uninitiated are told that the washing
has caused his call to depart, and the whistle is heard no more.®

Towards dusk all the kukusiut assemble in X’s house. He

The dismissal of the call at this time may not be the correct procedure.