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ight sleep。 Next day； after the animals had been again led down the steep bank to the river； and conducted thrice round the hole in the ice from which the women of the village drew their water； they were taken to an appointed place not far from the village； and shot to death with arrows。 The place of sacrifice or execution was marked as holy by being surrounded with whittled sticks； from the tops of which shavings hung in curls。 Such sticks are with the Gilyaks； as with the Aino； the regular symbols that accompany all religious ceremonies。
When the house has been arranged and decorated for their reception； the skins of the bears； with their heads attached to them； are brought into it； not； however； by the door； but through a window； and then hung on a sort of scaffold opposite the hearth on which the flesh is to be cooked。 The boiling of the bears' flesh among the Gilyaks is done only by the oldest men； whose high privilege it is； women and children； young men and boys have no part in it。 The task is performed slowly and deliberately； with a certain solemnity。 On the occasion described by the Russian travellers the kettle was first of all surrounded with a thick wreath of shavings； and then filled with snow； for the use of water to cook bear's flesh is forbidden。 Meanwhile a large wooden trough； richly adorned with arabesques and carvings of all sorts； was hung immediately under the snouts of the bears； on one side of the trough was carved in relief a bear； on the other side a toad。 When the carcases were being cut up； each leg was laid on the ground in front of the bears； as if to ask their leave； before being placed in the kettle； and the boiled flesh was fished out of the kettle with an iron hook； and set in the trough before the bears； in order that they might be the first to taste of their own flesh。 As fast； too； as the fat was cut in strips it was hung up in front of the bears； and afterwards laid in a small wooden trough on the ground before them。 Last of all the inner organs of the beasts were cut up and placed in small vessels。 At the same time the women made bandages out of parti…coloured rags； and after sunset these bandages were tied round the bears' snouts just below the eyes in order to dry the tears that flowed from them。
As soon as the ceremony of wiping away poor bruin's tears had been performed； the assembled Gilyaks set to work in earnest to devour his flesh。 The broth obtained by boiling the meat had already been partaken of。 The wooden bowls； platters； and spoons out of which the Gilyaks eat the broth and flesh of the bears on these occasions are always made specially for the purpose at the festival and only then； they are elaborately ornamented with carved figures of bears and other devices that refer to the animal or the festival； and the people have a strong superstitious scruple against parting with them。 After the bones had been picked clean they were put back in the kettle in which the flesh had been boiled。 And when the festal meal was over； an old man took his stand at the door of the house with a branch of fir in his hand； with which； as the people passed out； he gave a light blow to every one who had eaten of the bear's flesh or fat； perhaps as a punishment for their treatment of the worshipful animal。 In the afternoon the women performed a strange dance。 Only one woman danced at a time； throwing the upper part of her body into the oddest postures； while she held in her hands a branch of fir or a kind of wooden castanets。 The other women meanwhile played an accompaniment by drumming on the beams of the house with clubs。 Von Schrenk believed that after the flesh of the bear has been eaten the bones and the skull are solemnly carried out by the oldest people to a place in the forest not far from the village。 There all the bones except the skull are buried。 After that a young tree is felled a few inches above the ground； its stump cleft； and the skull wedged into the cleft。 When the grass grows over the spot； the skull disappears from view； and that is the end of the bear。
Another description of the bear…festivals of the Gilyaks has been given us by Mr。 Leo Sternberg。 It agrees substantially with the foregoing accounts； but a few particulars in it may be noted。 According to Mr。 Sternberg； the festival is usually held in honour of a deceased relation： the next of kin either buys or catches a bear cub and nurtures it for two or three years till it is ready for the sacrifice。 Only certain distinguished guests （Narch…en） are privileged to partake of the bear's flesh； but the host and members of his clan eat a broth made from the flesh； great quantities of this broth are prepared and consumed on the occasion。 The guests of honour （Narch…en） must belong to the clan into which the host's daughters and the other women of his clan are married： one of these guests； usually the host's son…in…law； is entrusted with the duty of shooting the bear dead with an arrow。 The skin； head； and flesh of the slain bear are brought into the house not through the door but through the smoke…hole； a quiver full of arrows is laid under the head and beside it are deposited tobacco； sugar； and other food。 The soul of the bear is supposed to carry off the souls of these things with it on the far journey。 A special vessel is used for cooking the bear's flesh； and the fire must be kindled by a sacred apparatus of flint and steel； which belongs to the clan and is handed down from generation to generation； but which is never used to light fires except on these solemn occasions。 Of all the many viands cooked for the consumption of the assembled people a portion is placed in a special vessel and set before the bear's head： this is called feeding the head。 After the bear has been killed； dogs are sacrificed in couples of male and female。 Before being throttled； they are fed and invited to go to their lord on the highest mountain； to change their skins； and to return next year in the form of bears。 The soul of the dead bear departs to the same lord； who is also lord of the primaeval forest； it goes away laden with the offerings that have been made to it； and attended by the souls of the dogs and also by the souls of the sacred whittled sticks； which figure prominently at the festival。
The Goldi； neighbours of the Gilyaks； treat the bear in much the same way。 They hunt and kill it； but sometimes they capture a live bear and keep him in a cage； feeding him well and calling him their son and brother。 Then at a great festival he is taken from his cage； paraded about with marked consideration； and afterwards killed and eaten。 The skull； jaw…bones； and ears are then suspended on a tree； as an antidote against evil spirits； but the flesh is eaten and much relished； for they believe that all who partake of it acquire a zest for the chase； and become courageous。
The Orotchis； another Tunguzian people of the region of the Amoor； hold bear…festivals of the same general character。 Any one who catches a bear cub considers it his bounden duty to rear it in a cage for about three years； in order at the end of that time to kill it publicly and eat the flesh with his friends。 The feasts being public； though organised by individuals； the people