WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 105

down on the fire; these two actions have the effect of “Making
smooth the path of the wolf to the place whence it came.”

X, now freed from the malignant influence, rushes out, and
a number of kukusiut accompany him to every house, calling
out in effect:

“I have lost my power.”

When X returns, he takes a stick and pretends to endeavour
to beat out the time of his own song describing his experiences
in the land above. Madness overcomes him, however, and he
begins to pound rapidly and aimlessly, requiring to be soothed
by cries of hoif. The singers ultimately chant forth a song
supposedly taught them by the Cannibal, but the details of
this subterfuge have already been described. Crystals are
sometimes thrust into him at this juncture, or the rite may be
deferred until the following night. When thus weighted, X
retires to his raised platform behind the fire.

The Cannibal remains on this for four days. If necessary
for him to leave the house, an accomplice first clears away all
uninitiated persons from the vicinity. If, however, X hears
the snarling or barking of dogs, he becomes excited and rushes
forth. Consequently, the kukusiut at intervals bring several
animals near to his house and beat them until they yowl. The
Cannibal becomes excited, howls like a wolf, rushes out, and,
with a few kukusiut in attendance, dashes into the lowest house
of the village. But the crystals have made him heavy; hecan
only sit on his heels near the door and gnaw his fingers. The
kukusiut hoip at him repeatedly, until he is sufficiently
pacified to rise and walk out. Then he howls again and runs
into the next house, where the same procedure is repeated;
every dwelling in the village is visited in this way, X finally
returning to the platform in his home. During the four days
he repeats this performance whenever he hears the yelping of
dogs, whether natural or instigated by his fellows.

On the fifth morning, two kukusiut gather chamber-vessels.
Later in the day the crystals are extracted and water thrown