It was not until the advent of Christianity that the women discovered how badly imposed upon they had been.

The play was performed in the following manner:

When the Aleuts decided or saw the need of performing it, they, in good time, assigned to all and each parts and places of action. On the morning of the day when the play was to be given, a part of the men, assigned to play the role of the devils, left the village for a couple of days or more, pretending they were going hunting; and those who remained at home when it was getting late, became all of a sudden restless, frightened, watchful, making believe that they had a foreboding of a calamity near at hand. In this way the men frightened the women, who were not permitted to leave the barrabara lest some harm befall them.

Shortly after the first fright and while in this condition, a loud and unusual noise outside was heard; and one of the brave men was sent out to investigate. He had not been out more than a moment before he came running back in great terror and consternation, saying: “The devils will soon appear.” He had scarcely done, when from all sides outside there arose terrible knockings and noises, so that it seemed the barrabara would crumble to pieces, and in addition to this there were ravings and awful shrieks in a strange voice. Then all the men of the barrabara would gather and place themselves in a defensive position, and cry to each other: “Stand up to it; be firm; don’t give up.” While in this mental state, the terrible devil, so tall that he could barely stand up in the barrabara, and dressed in a grassy suit, came in view and with dreadful roaring and whistling dropped into the barrabara through the opening in the ceiling. “Quickly put out the light!” all the men yelled, and that done the shrieking, whistling, howling, knocking, and all the other frightful noises increased. The devil was surrounded and attacked. “Wrestle; beat him; drive him out!” the chief shouted to his men. With each order the tumult swelled; in addition, [all sorts of] cracking, breaking, groaning, in fact – all conceivable noises filled the air. This fight and excitement lasted for a time, until the devil was overpowered and driven out, followed by the men yelling and screaming, but gradually the noise subsided, and then ceased altogether. A little later the devil-drivers returned to the barrabara, and after lighting the fires, looked about to see if any of their own men were hurt or missing, and nearly always there was somebody missing. On discovering this fact a new uproar arose: “Quickly get a woman for an offering, for a ransom for the kidnapped one!” and seizing the woman decided upon previously, and who was in a semi-conscious or unconscious state, [went] out with her. After a little time the men returned, carrying the missing man, who was apparently dead; the woman was also brought back with honor. Then followed the resurrection of the dead man, effected by beating him with inflated bladder, and calling to him to “Arise you are now with us.” Little by little he would become conscious again. His relatives, then, give him to the [shaman] who redeemed him from the devil with her person. With this, the performance ended.

A few days later returned the departed hunters, who were informed of the devil’s appearance, of the man’s abduction and his redemption.

The hunters listened to it with unusual attention and fright. As the belief of the Aleuts was wrapped up in spirits and devils, it is not to be wondered that the women were in constant dread of them, and on that account were more obedient and faithful than they would have been otherwise.

Running and expanding this site requires resources: from maintaining our digital platform to sourcing and curating new content. With your help, we can grow our collection, improve accessibility, and bring these incredible narratives to an even wider audience. Your sponsorship enables us to keep the world’s stories alive and thriving. ♦ Visit our Support page