WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 165

who comes nearest to drawing forth the fungus and the spec- tators comment:

“She must be a good girl for the supernatural beings to show their approval.”

At intervals X lifts up the fungus, and his strength is shown especially when the cord has been pulled so far down that he can grip only the very end with one finger. The four kukusiut hidden below sometimes become weary of their work and tie a billet crosswise to the rope so that no one can lift it, but of course this must be removed when X demonstrates his prowess again. Towards dawn the concealed helpers cut the rope and X lifts the fungus, holding it in front of his body while the kukusiut women drone. With four assistants pressing closely around him, X turns and makes the motion of throwing the fungus up into the air with a cry of hoip. It vanishes, and the uninitiated do not realize that it has been palmed to one of the accomplices for concealment beneath his blanket. Then one of the marshals explains to non-members that in the land above the supernatural beings once endeavoured to lift up a fungus, but that X alone, referring to that part of him which visits the dances in the land above, could do so. Accordingly it was sent down for mortals to try, and now that they too have failed it has been sent back. He enlarges on the fact that Xe through lying quiet for four days communing with the super- natural beings, has really become one, as is indeed the case with all kukusiut who ascend to the land above or experience other peculiar incidents in the course of their performances. This concludes the ceremony; the uninitiated are expelled and the kukusiut soon follow.

Instead of a nebusam of the type just described, X has the prerogative of performing in an entirely different manner of which only the outlines could be obtained. The fungus is tied to a long rope and thrown into the rapids. One end of the cord is held by a dusiut on the bank with the result that the fungus whirls to and fro erratically. The kukusiut assemble on the bank and hurl harpoons at it while non-members watch