WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 57

strengthen him by the insertion of their puppets. Thus for-
tified, X climbs into the box and, though this the uninitiated
do not know, out through the bottom underneath the house
whence he shoves the dummy up into the place he has just left.
Strings fastened to the figure lead out through the floor, so
that, when pulled, the fingers can be made to move and the
eyes to blink.*°) The marshals ask four young lads to come
forward to pour into the box the water which has been placed
in readiness. As they do so, the kukusiut women drone as if
in deadly fear and the fingers of the figure within can be seen
moving spasmodically. Water is poured in till it overflows the
edges of the box. At intervals during the night small parties
of uninitiated are called forward to see X beneath the surface,
without, of course, detecting the substitution. The mourning
women sing, and the puppets go and return from the land
above in the manner already described. When the carpenters
constructed the flap in the floor of the box they also inserted
several small plugs which are pulled out as dawn approaches.
This is done and one of the marshals calls out that the water
is lowering and the uninitiated, called forward to see, agree
that he has spoken truly. What seems extremely remarkable
to them is the absence of damp on the floor, as would be the
case if the box were leaking. The water has dripped away
through the trap-door in the floor, but only the £ukusiut know
this. Non-members are called forward four times to see the
steady diminution of the water, until finally only a little is left.
Under cover of the darkness X now re-enters the box, at the
same time shoving out the dummy. He sits up and feebly
sings a shaman’s song of Switsmén ‘2, who has restored him to
life after drowning, then climbs from the box and slowly circles
the fire with shaking hands, singing once more. Now that
X has recovered, the spies, who have acted as door-keepers,
allow the audience to disperse.

No further description need be given of the rites that follow

“It was impossible to ascertain what means were taken to prevent the water
dripping out through the holes for the strings.