New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-08
Queer Feast of Siberian Matrices.
TOGETHER.

After a time many leave the house. 10 reappear
later with bundles Of fagots- \ large heap OF
these is made on the hearth. and they a-e light
ed The dancing flames materially reduce the
gloom of the apartment Save for the cracking
Of the fire. there is hardly a sound Finally the
women place kettles near the fire and, whisper
ng still, finish the preparation Of the buildings.
Then the women representing the different fam
lies pass from one corner TO the other and ten
der small pieces Of the puddjugs
At this juncture two men ascend the pole 10
the roof and soon back through the smoke they
come with the head q the whale The appear
ance Of the head OF the chief guest symbolzing
his entrance and presence among them was the
signal FOR ending the selulchral silence. and in
stantLy the women break forth into toytu! ex-
carnations. crying. All, here the dear guest
comes Visit Us ofteni When you go back to
sea. tel. your friends TO call on Us also. We will
prepare just as nice food for them as we have
for you. We have plenty OF berries See" They
point 10 the buildings. All row are as animated
as The koryaks ever are The men and children
crowd around The fire into which the host wear
.nS grass collar around his neck throws a
piece OF tho INT Of the white whale. saying as he
does so. We are burning il in the fire for theel-
This process OF stewlng him in his own Fat does
not move the head Of the "houored guest" 10 re-
spont &c the toast and the host proceeds TO
pace pieces or rat before the guardian fireboari
and 70 smear the engraved mouth on II with fat
Accepting this ceremonial rs a signal for tn.
banquet 20 begin all in the house begin to eat Of
dried fish dipped in whale OIL boiled whale meat
broiIed skin Of the whale. and pudding The
ceremony has now reached It's height The heat
has become so great that the men are moved 70
take of their fur coats Their bronzed forms
the excited countenances OF the women he re-
Election OF the freight in the oil besr7aa-ad
faces Of the children form picture NOT easily
forgotten
on the following morning the company reas-
sembe 10 bid ad!eu % the "honored guest
The heart Of the beuga is converted into an
altar; on 1t are placed bags filed with buildings
that have been frozen. also the head Of the
whale. wound around with sacrifciaI grass Two
sisters OF the owner OF the house put on long
grass masks and oficiate as prIestesses They
kneel down before the hearth. bend their heads
over the altar, so that their masks cover the
bags, and pronounce an Incarnation The women
are supposed 10 have weak hearts, and therefore
are afraid 70 meet with face uncovered the spirit
or the white whale supposed 10 be present AZ
the ceremony of equippinE il for the Journey
nome Two men ascend the roof and let down
long thongs, 10 which the puddina. bags and
the head are tied. Berries and eacridciaI grass
put into the belugas mouth for food Thus
festooned and prOvisiOned for five days Jour
ney. the head is taken TO the beach by the com
pany and launched into the sea. "CiOodby' dear
friend, when the next high tide comes in induce
all your relatives to come with your sing the
newcomers when they appear the next tide.