14e THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

above; of sitting in one of the back corners and receiving the
first food at ritual meals; of paying those on whom they
exercise their prerogative, and of liability to frenzy on arrival
of strangers. This last prerogative, if it may be so termed,
lasts for the ceremonial season, and in the case of a novice,
for the following summer as well. Moreover, Breakers do not
destroy the goods of fellow-Breakers, Scratchers, or Cannibals.

In view of the similarity of this rite to those already de-
scribed, no effort was made to collect full details. Different
Breakers have minor variations in ritual, similar to those al-
ready illustrated. The following is an account of the manner
in which the Breaker, Sxek of Snuiali, performed the rite a
number of years ago. As on previous occasions, it will be con-
venient to use the present tense, and to refer to the dancer as
X. Sxek gave the following account of the origin of his
prerogative.

Long, long ago, soon after the first people had come to this earth, a
marriage was about to take place in the village of Suit-e?. At that
distant period the people were so powerful that they could themselves
initiate kusiut dances, and the bridegroom determined to do so in honour
of theevent. He chose toimitate the actions of Sdnoiiximutelts Aiquntim,
one of Azguntiém’s sons, whom he remembered having seen throwing
stones in his father’s house before he, the bridegroom, was sent down to
this world. When goods were piled up ready for distribution as marriage
presents, the man began to hurl stones around; one of them
ricochetted from a box, struck his bride and killed her. This unforeseen
accident solved the question of his name, as by universal consent it was
decided that he should be called, Sxek, “He of the Faulty Aim.”

Since that time a law has been enforced that no Breaker may throw a
rock except ceremonially during his dance, and the marshals punish one
who disobeysthisinjunction. Ifa Breakerisin the forest with a number
of kukusiut, it does not matter if he fails to uphold this tradition; the essen-
tial is that the uninitiated do not see him cast a stone, even at a yelping
dog, the usual reason for doing so in Bella Coola.

When X wishes to dance he must first obtain the consent of
the marshals in the usual manner. He also arranges with
kukusiut to have boxes and other wooden objects placed within

®°This being is also called Nustexwanixwutam, “The Cherished One.”