the golden bough-第157部分

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common　feast；　and　hence　all　must　contribute　to　support　him　in　his　life。　The　length　of　time　he　is　kept　in　captivity　depends　on　his　age。　Old　bears　are　kept　only　a　few　months；　cubs　are　kept　till　they　are　full…grown。　A　thick　layer　of　fat　on　the　captive　bear　gives　the　signal　for　the　festival；　which　is　always　held　in　winter；　generally　in　December　but　sometimes　in　January　or　February。　At　the　festival　witnessed　by　the　Russian　travellers；　which　lasted　a　good　many　days；　three　bears　were　killed　and　eaten。　More　than　once　the　animals　were　led　about　in　procession　and　compelled　to　enter　every　house　in　the　village；　where　they　were　fed　as　a　mark　of　honour；　and　to　show　that　they　were　welcome　guests。　But　before　the　beasts　set　out　on　this　round　of　visits；　the　Gilyaks　played　at　skipping…rope　in　presence；　and　perhaps；　as　L。　von　Schrenck　inclined　to　believe；　in　honour　of　the　animals。　The　night　before　they　were　killed；　the　three　bears　were　led　by　moonlight　a　long　way　on　the　ice　of　the　frozen　river。　That　night　no　one　in　the　village　might　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　try　to　have　one　in　each　Orotchi　village　every　year　in　turn。　When　the　bear　is　taken　out　of　his　cage；　he　is　led　about　by　means　of　ropes　to　all　the　huts；　accompanied　by　people　armed　with　lances；　bows；　and　arrows。　At　each　hut　the　bear　and　bear…leaders　are　treated　to　something　good　to　eat　and　drink。　This　goes　on　for　several　days　until　all　the　huts；　not　only　in　that　village　but　also　in　the　next；　have　been　visited。　The　days　are　given　up　to　sport　and　noisy　jollity。　Then　the　bear　is　tied　to　a　tree　or　wooden　pillar　and　shot　to　death　by　the　arrows　of　the　crowd；　after　which　its　flesh　is　roasted　and　eaten。　Among　the　Orotchis　of　the　Tundja　River　women　take　part　in　the　bear…feasts；　while　among　the　Orotchis　of　the　River　Vi　the　women　will　not　even　touch　bear's　flesh。

In　the　treatment　of　the　captive　bear　by　these　tribes　there　are　features　which　can　hardly　be　distinguished　from　worship。　Such；　for　example；　are　the　prayers　offered　to　it　both　alive　and　dead；　the　offerings　of　food；　including　portions　of　its　own　flesh；　laid　before　the　animal's　skull；　and　the　Gilyak　custom　of　leading　the　living　beast　to　the　river　in　order　to　ensure　a　supply　of　fish；　and　of　conducting　him　from　house　to　house　in　order　that　every　family　may　receive　his　blessing；　just　as　in　Europe　a　May…tree　or　a　personal　representative　of　the　tree…spirit　used　to　be　taken　from　door　to　door　in　spring　for　the　sake　of　diffusing　among　all　and　sundry　the　fresh　energies　of　reviving　nature。　Again；　the　solemn　participation　in　his　flesh　and　blood；　and　particularly　the　Aino　custom　of　sharing　the　contents　of　the　cup　which　had　been　consecrated　by　being　set　before　the　dead　beast；　are　strongly　suggestive　of　a　sacrament；　and　the　suggestion　is　confirmed　by　the　Gilyak　practice　of　reserving　special　vessels　to　hold　the　flesh　and　cooking　it　on　a　fire　kindled　by　a　sacred　apparatus　which　is　never　employed　except　on　these　religious　occasions。　Indeed　our　principal　authority　on　Aino　religion；　the　Rev。　John　Batchelor；　frankly　describes　as　worship　the　ceremonious　respect　which　the　Aino　pay　to　the