162 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

at O-gwi-, near that village, where it has remained ever since.
It will be convenient to term Snumkka"hus X.

If X wishes to perform, he informs the marshals of his
desire and a suitable time is arranged. On the night of webusam
for some other kusiut, the call comes to X who indicates that
it has taken possession of him by uttering a low vocal whistle
and peering around as if dazed. Kukustut accomplices sound
whistles from without the house, the uninitiated are at once
expelled, and the women drone monotonously. After a few
minutes, X walks to the side of the fire nearest the door and
again gives his low whistle, still looking around in a puzzled
manner. This is repeated a third time at the side of the fire,
and a fourth, behind it. Thus the call comes upon him.
Heralds inform the uninitiated in the other houses of what is
taking place. The kukusiut begin to assemble in X’s house,
and assist him by the four times repeated frenzied beating of
sticks. Next the singers beat out the words of a song already
composed for the occasion; the theme for all songs used by
Fungus dancers is the land above. The ritual on this night of
isuxtémem is identical with that already described in the earlier
Rusiut dances.

On the day following, zusiutdlsap, there is not the cus-
tomary collecting of wood from the forest. X merely remains
quietly within the back-room, visited only by senior kustut
officials and a skilful carpenter. The latter brings a fungus
which he has found in the woods; it must be a good specimen
of the common semi-circular shelf variety with a clear white
surface unspoiled by decay. On this he paints a face, showing
eye-brows, eyes, nose, and mouth, and fastens beneath a mini-
ature body made of dyed cedar-bark with grotesque waving
legs, terminating in eagle claws (see Plate 10). The total length
of the figure is about nine inches. The fungus, with pendant
attachment, is fastened near the end of a stout rope of plaited
cedar-bark about eight feet in length, so that when this end of
the rope is held uppermost, the head of the fungus hangs in a
normal upright position. The carpenter starts his work on