SE ee aaa

308 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

C Ipdxstmaxdumiistka | yao daitsamamucda | kimétpaxolaiskidax: | Hatay indusdax
There was a big cloak for his(f) forefather; two men held him in it(g).

Yao sexsexkélaixsudax
Hail, Sexsexkalaix(h)!

(a) This song was composed and used during the kusiut season of 1923-4.

() Referring to the call. It was impossible to obtain a literal translation of
these two subdivisions.

(c) Presumably referring to the supernatural beings in the land above.

(d) The dancer’s cannibalistic incubus was the eagle. The slightly vague expres-
sions are necessary to deceive the uninitiated.

(e) It was impossible to obtain a translation of each subdivision.

(f) Referring to the dancer.

(zg) The meaning of this is obscure. It was impossible to obtain a literal trans-
lation of each subdivision.

(hk) The dancer’s patron.

Song Used for Kot-iaiyulims, a Bella Coola Cannibal Dancer(a)}

dasnumunskainuttim
when he counted

A Sawasgotkmailaixsmdisuks a’lihkaliwamtais
No one spoke at the meeting(4)

onosaxtps-mattimats
how many should be eaten(c).
[WORDLESS CHORUS]
attésnutwinudjike's
in his house(e);

B Sawasnimnumussdtao | wadnutciyudjataix
Alternately, two men | kept giving him food(d)

yao dakinkin-idjudax
there is incessant growling(/).
[WoRDLESs CHORUS]
Yao da’ étjpamlitsdusdax
Hail to the shaking off(#)!

C Wasnutcixélimitumdai | aiatigwan-ik’litsdax
The wood shivered(g) as he walked(A).

Yao sexsexkélaixsudax
Hail to Sexsexkalaix(j)!

(a) Recorded as song VII D 10a, National Museum of Canada; singer, Jim
Pollard. This song was composed and used during the kusiut season of 1923-4.

(4) The uninitiated assume this to be a reference to the meeting in the land above
at which it was decided to send down a call to the dancer.

(c) That is: He, the dancer’s patron, decided how many human beings should ~
be eaten. The reference is slightly peculiar since Kot-iaiyulimx has the prero-
gative of biting himself.

(d) The uninitiated assume that this refers to human flesh.

(e) Referring to his repository. The exact meaning is intentionally obscure.

(f) A reference to the growling of the Cannibal by which the uninitiated are
frightened.