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ievous spirit Tu？a from every house。 The ceremony was witnessed by the members of the United States Polar Expedition； who wintered at Point Barrow。 A fire was built in front of the council…house； and an old woman was posted at the entrance to every house。 The men gathered round the council…house while the young women and girls drove the spirit out of every house with their knives； stabbing viciously under the bunk and deer…skins； and calling upon Tu？a to be gone。 When they thought he had been driven out of every hole and corner； they thrust him down through the hole in the floor and chased him into the open air with loud cries and frantic gestures。 Meanwhile the old woman at the entrance of the house made passes with a long knife in the air to keep him from returning。 Each party drove the spirit towards the fire and invited him to go into it。 All were by this time drawn up in a semicircle round the fire； when several of the leading men made specific charges against the spirit； and each after his speech brushed his clothes violently； calling on the spirit to leave him and go into the fire。 Two men now stepped forward with rifles loaded with blank cartridges； while a third brought a vessel of urine and flung it on the flames。 At the same time one of the men fired a shot into the fire； and as the cloud of steam rose it received the other shot； which was supposed to finish Tun？a for the time being。
In late autumn； when storms rage over the land and break the icy fetters by which the frozen sea is as yet but slightly bound； when the loosened floes are driven against each other and break with loud crashes； and when the cakes of ice are piled in wild disorder one upon another； the Esquimaux of Baffin Land fancy they hear the voices of the spirits who people the mischief…laden air。 Then the ghosts of the dead knock wildly at the huts； which they cannot enter； and woe to the hapless wight whom they catch； he soon sickens and dies。 Then the phantom of a huge hairless dog pursues the real dogs； which expire in convulsions and cramps at sight of him。 All the countless spirits of evil are abroad striving to bring sickness and death； foul weather and failure in hunting on the Esquimaux。 Most dreaded of all these spectral visitants are Sedna； mistress of the nether world； and her father； to whose share dead Esquimaux fall。 While the other spirits fill the air and the water； she rises from under ground。 It is then a busy season for the wizards。 In every house you may hear them singing and praying； while they conjure the spirits； seated in a mystic gloom at the back of the hut； which is dimly lit by a lamp burning low。 The hardest task of all is to drive away Sedna； and this is reserved for the most powerful enchanter。 A rope is coiled on the floor of a large hut in such a way as to leave a small opening at the top； which represents the breathing hole of a seal。 Two enchanters stand beside it； one of them grasping a spear as if he were watching a seal…hole in winter； the other holding the harpoon…line。 A third sorcerer sits at the back of the hut chanting a magic song to lure Sedna to the spot。 Now she is heard approaching under the floor of the hut； breathing heavily； now she emerges at the hole； now she is harpooned and sinks away in angry haste； dragging the harpoon with her； while the two men hold on to the line with all their might。 The struggle is severe； but at last by a desperate wrench she tears herself away and returns to her dwelling in Adlivun。 When the harpoon is drawn up out of the hole it is found to be splashed with blood； which the enchanters proudly exhibit as a proof of their prowess。 Thus Sedna and the other evil spirits are at last driven away； and next day a great festival is celebrated by old and young in honour of the event。 But they must still be cautious； for the wounded Sedna is furious and will seize any one she may find outside of his hut； so they all wear amulets on the top of their hoods to protect themselves against her。 These amulets consist of pieces of the first garments that they wore after birth。
The Iroquois inaugurated the new year in January； February； or March （the time varied） with a festival of dreams like that which the Hurons observed on special occasions。 The whole ceremonies lasted several days； or even weeks； and formed a kind of saturnalia。 Men and women； variously disguised； went from wigwam to wigwam smashing and throwing down whatever they came across。 It was a time of general license； the people were supposed to be out of their senses； and therefore not to be responsible for what they did。 Accordingly； many seized the opportunity of paying off old scores by belabouring obnoxious persons； drenching them with ice…cold water； and covering them with filth or hot ashes。 Others seized burning brands or coals and flung them at the heads of the first persons they met。 The only way of escaping from these persecutors was to guess what they had dreamed of。 On one day of the festival the ceremony of driving away evil spirits from the village took place。 Men clothed in the skins of wild beasts； their faces covered with hideous masks； and their hands with the shell of the tortoise； went from hut to hut making frightful noises； in every hut they took the fuel from the fire and scattered the embers and ashes about the floor with their hands。 The general confession of sins which preceded the festival was probably a preparation for the public expulsion of evil influences； it was a way of stripping the people of their moral burdens； that these might be collected and cast out。
In September the Incas of Peru celebrated a festival called Situa； the object of which was to banish from the capital and its vicinity all disease and trouble。 The festival fell in September because the rains begin about this time； and with the first rains there was generally much sickness。 As a preparation for the festival the people fasted on the first day of the moon after the autumnal equinox。 Having fasted during the day； and the night being come； they baked a coarse paste of maize。 This paste was made of two sorts。 One was kneaded with the blood of children aged from five to ten years； the blood being obtained by bleeding the children between the eyebrows。 These two kinds of paste were baked separately； because they were for different uses。 Each family assembled at the house of the eldest brother to celebrate the feast； and those who had no elder brother went to the house of their next relation of greater age。 On the same night all who had fasted during the day washed their bodies； and taking a little of the blood…kneaded paste； rubbed it over their head； face； breast； shoulders； arms and legs。 They did this in order that the paste might take away all their infirmities。 After this the head of the family anointed the threshold with the same paste； and left it there as a token that the inmates of the house had performed their ablutions and cleansed their bodies。 Meantime the High Priest performed the same ceremonies in the temple of the Sun。 As soon as the Sun rose； all the people worshipped and besought him to drive all evils out of the city； and then they broke their fast with the paste that had been kneaded without blood。 When they had paid their worship and broken their fast； which they did at a stated hour； in order that all might adore the Sun as one man； an Inca of the blood royal came forth from the fortress； as a messenger of the Sun； richly dressed； with his mantle girded round his body； and a lance in his hand。 The lance was decked with feathers of many hues； extending from the blade to the socket； and fastened with rings of gold。 He ran down the hill from the fortress brandishing his lance； till he reached the centre of the great square； where stood the golden urn； like a fountain； that was used for the sacrifice of the fermented juice of the maize。 Here four other Incas of the blood royal awaited him； each with a lance in his hand； and his mantle girded up to run。 The messenger touched their four lances with his lance； and told them that the Sun bade them； as his messengers； drive the evils out of the city。 The four Incas then separated and ran down the four royal roads which led out of the city to the four quarters of the world。 While they ran； all the people； great and small； came to the doors of their houses； and with great shouts of joy and gladness shook their clothes； as if they were shaking off dust； while they cried； Let the evils be gone。 How greatly desired has this festival been by us。 O Creator of all things； permit us to reach another year； that we may see another feast like this。 After they had shaken their clothes； they passed their hands over their heads； faces； arms； and legs； as if in the act of washing。 All this was done to drive the evils out of their houses； that the messengers of the Sun might banish them from the city； and it was done not only in the streets through which the Incas ran； but generally in all quarters of the city。 Moreover； they all danced； the Inca himself amongst them； and bathed in the rivers and fountains； saying that their maladies would come out of them。 Then they took great torches of straw； bound round with cords。 These they lighted； and passed from one to the other； striking eac