WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 31

It is hoped that this somewhat lengthy description will
assist the reader in following the complicated details of the
actual rites.

INITIATION

Although kusiut ceremonials take place only during the
winter, preliminary arrangements are discussed and carried
out throughout the year. One of the subjects over which the
old men and the marshals debate at length is the admission of
new members. Sometimes the relatives of a young man or
woman wish to have him, or her, initiated and propose to use
a kusiut prerogative dormant in their family. More often an
elderly person is willing to transfer one of his prerogatives to
a younger relative; comparatively few are unused owing to the
small sums needed to validate them. In either case, one of the
marshals is consulted. He passes word to his fellows, and toa
number of the elderly kukusiut, who meet in the council-place
of the village. The prospective novice’s relatives are there
and express the belief that he is sufficiently mature in mind
to be a credit to the society. If some of those present demur,
the matter is discussed at length until all agree, or until it
appears that there is strong objection on account of the youth
or inconsistency in character of the proposed novice. In this
case his relatives can only hope that their proposal will be
more favourably received the following year. Sometimes the
young man or woman is informed that his relatives have ex-
erted their influence with AnoVikwoisaix to make him a Rusiut,
more often he remains in ignorance until the ceremonial season.

The initiation of one admitted under these normal circum-
stances is the same as for one made a “shaman” on account of
too great knowledge. Sometimes the marshals themselves
take the first steps. If few kukusiut wish to give ceremonials
so that there are gaps in the nightly performances, the marshals
select a suitable slave and ask his owner to give him some
kusiut prerogative of little value. If the latter agrees, a pretext
is found to lure the victim to the woods whence he is carried,