WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 39

prohibitions that last not for one year, but for four. X isnot
subject to any other restraints. If he wishes to go hunting
he can remove his cedar-bark collar and hang it for conveni-
ence in the forest near his village, redonning it on his return.
The kukusiut show considerable interest in their new member,
not only by warning him what he must not do, but by teaching
him how to dance and to growl or make other of the necessary,
but unusual, noises. During the remainder of the ceremonial
season X is required to attend every kustut dance, thereby
learning much of the ceremonial, and during the following
summer his relatives, especially if food is plentiful, frequently
invite the kukusiut to their house. The singers beat out well-
known tunes, or practise those which will be required for the
following winter; if a song has been composed for X he dances
in time to it, in the style proper to his prerogative. F ormerly,
when there were many novices, dances of this type took place
frequently and were useful in giving constant practice to
singers and neophytes alike. As no calls from supernatural
patrons can come at this time of year, it follows that all such
dances are of a non-sacred nature, although the uninitiated
are excluded. During his period as a novitiate, X has one
privilege; he can take food from anyone at any type of cere-
mony. It is remembered that one novice was even bold
enough to take food which had been placed as an offering for
the dead.

When the next Ausiut season opens, X attends every per-
formance. This is probably the most thrilling and nerve-
racking period in his life. He does not know exactly when he
will be allowed to give his dance, since that is a matter of
arrangement between his relatives and the marshals, but he
knows that the time will soon be at hand. When the great
day, or rather night, actually comes, X is usually in a state of
abject terror. The rite itself does not differ from those about
to be described except that the first song relates the manner in
which X found the repository. But the mental attitude of X
differs greatly from that of an old performer. One informant,