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by means of lamps. When people were assembled and
everybody seated according to his customary rank, one of the
principal hunters commenced the ceremony with a song, at the
same time dancing and beating the tambourine surrounded by
all the people belonging to his household or his partisans.
Having ended, he distributed gifts of his game among the
assembly. The value of his presents in connection with the
number of his attendants would then decide the rank which
public opinion transferred to him. After he had finished, the
same act was repeated by a new performer and so on, these
ceremonies being alternated with meals, feasting and merrymaking
lasting for several days.
Apart from these festivals councils were held on serious
occasions to which no woman was admitted unless after being
solemnly introduced. Bloodvengeance was among the affairs
decided in this way. Sometimes it gave rise to wars with
other tribes from which female prisoners and children were
brought home as slaves.
A very interesting account is given by the Norwegian
traveller Jacobsen of his having witnessed a great festival at
Igniktok close to Bering Strait. Here the Kashim had an
underground entrance leading to an opening in the middle of
the floor. The festival was held especially in honour of five
deceased persons belonging to as many families and here
represented by one relative each. It began with a song
whereupon a man stepped forward and before the audience shifted his
clothes, taking on his dancing dress and then assisted by some
women, dancing and beating the drum he sung in honour of
the dead, praising their excellent qualities and achievements.
After three dances had been performed in this way, the whole
party was copiously regaled and finally a very remarkable
ceremony took place, consisting of a distribution of gifts on behalf
of the dead, as a sign of power and magnanimity.
The amount of what was given away on this occasion
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