The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-11

was reproduced in the wood or stone Of the
case which inclosed the mummy. All the
| features were made complete, in order that
! the defunct person could see, hear and
| caste In ancient Peru, during periods Of
! public calamity, the faces of the gods were
covered with masks. The worship of the
head is carried to an exaggerated point in
the curious Indian myth, which descr hes
! the earth as a bOdyleSs head rolling along
! the flaming plains. Among the Indians Of
| North America many strange beliefs are
held respecting demon heads that wander
about, sometimes harmlessly, and at other
times for malignant purposes. Some Of
them are Of gigantic size, with wings,
while others have faces Of fire.
There used to be a society among the
Iroquois organized for the purpose of pro-
piiating these extraordinary terrors. The
latter, according to popular conception,
most commonly moved about from tree to
tree in solitary places, where they were apt
to be encountered, much to the discomfort
OF hunters and women who CHANGED to be
alone in the forest. Few things can be
imagined more dsagreeabIe than to meet
unexpectedly IN the woods great head six
feet high, without legs, arms or body. Occa-
sionally these remarkable creatures would
talk, but 1t was chiefly at night that they
had fiery aspect, the r favorite nocturnal
haunts being marshes and pools Members
Va buo CAOiCioluk SOClbbLoS NOI0 iIldshS III
imitation of the heads when they performed
ceremonies for the purpose Of driving such
demons away. OF course the fre-faces were
invented to account for the jack-o'-lantern
or "ignes fatuin which haunt moist places.
Savage tribes very commonly make use
of masks. Among the Zunis at the cere-
mony of the ''Kokkon various individuals
get themselves up TO represent the different
gods. On donning his mask the actor be-
comes not only the representative of the
god, but is endowed with some of the
functions and powers of the divinity
Among other things he is given the
breath" of the god. BY the Makah
Indians masks representing the head
of the Thunder BIRD are worn, the
nose Of the wearer being covered by long
hoax. In the "oear dances" practiced by
many tribes the heads of those who partici-
pate are covered with masks taken from
the heads of bears. and likewise used to be
in the buffalo Dances" The medicine
man while performing his magical rites
commonly covers his head with O bears
mask. Many Indian masks are made to
counterfeit the heads OF different kinds Of
birds
The natural condguration of many
mountains suggests the human face, and
such physiognOmies cut out of the rocks on
a gidantIc scale are commonly regarded by
savages as objects Of worship. Ellen Rus
indebted, says that the Thunder Bird Of the
Thlinkits is described by them as a giant
man, dwelling in the sacred hills. When in
want of food he provides himself with
pair of wings and mask in the shape Of
a birds head, the latter having a beak as
sharp as knife and "a tongue that makes
fire." Thus afrayed the god spreads his
wings and sails over the ocean in search of
q whale. By his side aud attached TO his
waist is the lightning demon which darts
upon the prey and fetches it to the hungry
god
In the ancient Greek drama, as is we'll
known, the actors used commonly to wear
masks representing the gods and heroes.
Arstophaues burlesqued this practice,
bringing upon the stage chorus in masks
depicting frogs. wasps and other animals.
In the dialogue Peisrhtairos SAYS to Epops;
"Pray tell me, where are your feathersF
To which Epops, who has the head of
bird and featherless body, replies: 1t is
the molting season."