SPIRITS LIKE THE SOUND OF THE RATTLE AND DRUM: GEORGE THORNTON EMMONS' COLLECTION OF TLINGIT SHAMANS' KITS. ILIFF, BARBARA ELIZABETH DISSERTATION, 1994 UNDER MOUNT ST. ELIAS: THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE YAKUTAT TLINGIT. DE LAGUNA, FREDERICA, 7, 1972

SPIRITS LIKE THE SOUND OF THE RATTLE AND DRUM: GEORGE THORNTON EMMONS' COLLECTION OF TLINGIT SHAMANS' KITS. ILIFF, BARBARA ELIZABETH DISSERTATION, 1994 UNDER MOUNT ST. ELIAS: THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE YAKUTAT TLINGIT. DE LAGUNA, FREDERICA, 7, 1972

SPIRITS LIKE THE SOUND OF THE RATTLE AND DRUM: GEORGE THORNTON EMMONS' COLLECTION OF TLINGIT SHAMANS' KITS. ILIFF, BARBARA ELIZABETH DISSERTATION, 1994 UNDER MOUNT ST. ELIAS: THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE YAKUTAT TLINGIT. DE LAGUNA, FREDERICA, 7, 1972

Barrel-shaped brown drum (a) with wide woven strap has stretched white goat skin held in place over each end with wood hoops. White rope laced between the two skins in a zigzag has attached metal rings from which hang bundled, twisted or braided strands of yellow, blue, red, black, green and pink fibre with tassels and pompoms at the ends. Two drumsticks, one a polished piece of wood with curved handle and padded red leather top (b), the other a simple painted stick with black tape near one end (c), are stuck between the lacing.

A bundle of tassels, or fringe from a garment that has been cut off and tied together. The tassels are made from lengths of skin wrapped in porcupine quill and ending with copper cones and very coarse hair. The catalogue card states this is a bunch of Indian bells which probably resulted from the fact the tassels are partly made from small copper cones which jingle when shaken (G.Crowther).; Good.The cones are made of iron not copper

A) Skin bag with a central strip of red and white quill decoration. The bag has a long cord attached made from plaited gut, with a blue, white and red woven end decoration. B) Similar bag to A) inside which it is kept. It has a central fringe of red cotton but no quill work.; Good. Additional description: A) Flattened, creased and slightly warped. Very fragile and brittle. A number of small holes over surface and a small circular repair on one side. Red edging at mouth of bag. Toggle at end of cord. B) Flattened, creased and slightly warped. Very fragile and brittle. Paler in colour than A. Red edging along top and sides. (J.Tanner, April 1998).