268 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

text, although they are obvious on the phonograph records.
In singing, moreover, sounds, especially vowel sounds, are
altered to fit the tune, a factor which accounts for further
discrepancies between record and text. A frequent device is
reduplication, a word or group of words is repeated in singing
when not called for in the spoken version. Finally one sound
occurs in singing which is practically unknown in speaking, a
velar s (recorded as s) which gives a whistling effect. Most
choruses and some whole songs consist of meaningless sounds;
in such cases the tune alone is important and no attempt was
made to record the syllables.

It was quite as difficult to obtain interpretations as to
record texts. Songs which have been handed down for genera-
tions abound in archaic expressions which are meaningless
even to the older men: some recently composed are full of
metaphorical devices to conceal their real significance from the
uninitiated. The result is consequently a series of words which,
taken one at a time, convey no meaning. In many cases it was
impossible to obtain literal translations, even with the willing
assistance of younger men familiar with English. Every effort
was made to get the general meaning, and it is felt that this
object was tolerably achieved, though the transcriptions may
not be sufficiently accurate for grammatical analysis.

Singers function at every ceremony; in fact, its success
depends so largely upon their efforts that they are always
important members of the community. Some singers are
created by the validation of an ancestral prerogative; others
by having composed a suitable tune. The young man who has
done so, calls one of the established musicians aside and hums
it to him; if the hearer is favourably impressed, he may learn
and repeat it to his fellows, and if it wins their approval, the
composer may be asked to join their ranks for the occasion on
which it is to be used. Thus encouraged, the young man is
likely to try again, or he may be invited to assist at some
ceremony for which a large number of singers is required. If
proficient, he is certain to win recognition in course of time,