WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 167

time of day, X must sing. The heralds call everyone to his
house where the singers at once compose a new song, describing
sun or moon as the case may be. They then sing it while X
dances. Other kukusiut have the Prerogative of dancing at an
eclipse of the sun, and still others at an eclipse of the moon,
but X claims to be the only one entitled to dance at both.

THE MYSTERY DANCE

Mystery is the key-note of all Ausiut dances, but in the one
termed d?mutsdémk that element is brought home so forcibly
to the uninitiated that it may aptly be called the Dance of
Mystery. The Bella Coola explain that the word Aimutsimk
means stagam, “What Is Hidden.’”’ The essence of the rite,
as explained to non-members, is that the supernatural power
which has come to the dancer is embodied in three supernatural
beings or in manifestations of them. Unless someone guesses
its locations, the performer will die. The Mystery dance is
one of the most lengthy Bella Coola rituals and necessitates
such a lavish expenditure of food that only a rich man can
undertake it.

Accounts were obtained of the ritual as carried out by
Qoxotin-i of Tcumot? and Saixnds of Kimsquit, both of whom
have the necessary prerogative. The details differ so slightly
in the two localities that only one description need be given,
and the dancer can be spoken of as X. The patron of most
Mystery dancers is Sanotfxumutelts Atquntam, but that of
Saixnds is Kokostxum, a supernatural being remarkable for his
wild and erratic behaviour.

When X has stored up as much food as he thinks necessary,
he calls the marshals together to tell them of his desire to
dance. In case of consent, they admonish him not to hurry
matters but to perform the rite slowly and properly. Prelimi-
nary arrangements include the choosing of four kukusiut
gifted with good memories to store up in their minds the
Suesses made by the uninitiated. If many kukusiut are anx-
lous to dance, X usually asks permission on the night of a