WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 59

has been in contact. Their attitude of uncertainty as to
whether they are gazing upon real supernatural beings or on
representations of them has already been described, but the
uninitiated do not theorize on the point—they are seeing
strange sights about which X and the kukusiut know, that is
enough for them.

Behind the fire they see a canoe-shaped erection, a model
of Nodkxnim’s craft, with six or eight masked heads, his pas-
sengers, appearing over thesides. Near this are four more dis-
guised figures, three standing and one sitting. 4no°likwotsaix
ranges in the vicinity, while X himself stands behind, at inter-
vals sweeping one arm over the heads of the strange beings
and uttering a droning cry. Anolikwotsaix explains to the
uninitiated that the figures have come from afar, that they are
powerful, but not to be afraid, since X’s drone gives protection
to them from the supernatural ones. She points to one of the
figures whose mask is painted with the design of a salmon.24

“See!” she says, “There is Nodkxmum: unless he brings the
salmon they cannot come to our river.”

Another of the standing figures is described as Dakdakén-
mem, and the other as 4#4a¢lmktnum. In each case she states
briefly the functions of the being. The seated figure, who
wears a large hat and rests on a mat, is the Resident. Great is
the mystification of the uninitiated at seeing these super-
natural beings normally visible only to X. How they envy
him! Another frequent display is of a group of masked figures
playing s/e/i (II, p. 382). If this has been done, AnoVikwoksaix
explains that this game is of interest to the salmon and that
it is therefore played in Nodkxnum’s canoe.

*There is no doubt that in former times the Bella Coola attached greater
importance to the designs painted on masks than they do at present. Except for
a few vague notes it was impossible to obtain information on this subject; in fact,
in 1922 there was only one Bella Coola alive who understood the symbols used.
This man was drunk so often that he proved an impossible informant. It is for-
tunate that Professor Boas recorded a considerable number of designs (op. cit.),
to which the reader is referred.

*As already described, the uninitiated undoubtedly believe that they are
actually gazing upon supernatural beings.