ng ane

306 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

newly composed whenever required, though in recent years
old ones have occasionally been re-used owing to lack of ability
on the part of the singers. The following songs have been
arranged in the same order as the descriptions of the kusiut
dances at which they were employed.

Song Used for Anuspuxim-aix, a Kimsquit Man(a)

wasdigwatsaiyaltuas | dttésqumstixwliwadjudats
shook slightly(c) when he came(d@)

A Sa waskimaiyaltwasais
Everything(é)

skiméltiyupalxwals
to the first point.

[WoRDLEss cHoRUus]

Htatmunsgaltwaiyaisuats
the calendrical experts(e);

B Skémétigailaitaoats
Have made up their minds

anuttxétélusguais
through their greed(f).

sinugxwlimdimutataoats
they have curtailed

[WORDLESS cHoRUs]

C Nunugpstixlaiyaixmdago
Constantly refills

340 disnugalaidnkesdai | yao diomométékas
water(g) the dishes

dinunuitiyumemgodai
which elevate him(A).

(2) Recorded as song VII D 46a, National Museum of Canada; singer, Jim
Pollard. This song is said to have been used about 1870.

(4) This is a reference to Sonx™.

(c) This is a grandiloquent expression, such as are common in kusiut songs.

(d) Referring to Nodékxnum, the dancer’s patron.

(e) That is: The calendrical experts have come to an agreement.

(f) That is: They have abbreviated the period of waiting owing to their greed.
This song was used by the kukusiut at one of their gatherings during Nodkxnum’s
approach. At Kimsquit no uninitiated were present on such occasions so it was
possible to indulge in comments without betraying the secrets of the society. The
significance here is that the experts were so greedy to share in the food that they
agreed to say that Nodkxnum had arrived before his proper time.

(g) That is: Water constantly re-fills. By water is meant food and mountain
goat grease.

(2) That is: The dishes of which the contents, when distributed, increase his
status.