SS

284 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

bered, but the rites in which they were used have been prac-
tically discontinued for several years so that unabridged ver-
sions are almost impossible to obtain. ’alk themes vary
according to the ceremonies in which they are used. For pot-
latches, they consist of incidents from ancestral myths; whereas
for non-ceremonial occasions following the Ausiut season, they
deal with current events. The following examples are divided
into these two classes.

THEMES DRAWN FROM ANCESTRAL MYTHS

Q?aga Song Used for Nuximéattilaix, a Man of Kimsquit(a)

A Yeyutsimatototaix didtimitsudai duxgwuntaixdsutdai
They give valuable counsel, | my goods(é); they formulate their own
opinion
otdigomatsduisdai | aiyaskét-aiimkiisdai | otdiamtainutiisdai

concerning to whom of those seated in my house I shall give presents(c).

[WORDLEss cHORUS]
B K@ Gtaiyusdjmatsandja

shikitgimodjmiis W asaltwinmodjdumant'
I speak loftily

of everything(d). Through them(e)

itivmstaiimdids-ts
my power to give potlatches [is]

sitgwalsttiwads-uats
I become elevated,

. > ?
aty awamdan:-uksaitsats
my male relatives(f).

[WORDLEss cHoRUs]
C Kénunukéwétmidsmais
Presently I shall stand

dusnut’gandls-kidax
within the box

dununutgénemtskidax
at the corner door(g),

sxGlxdldimutdimkis
where flowed to all(A)

twalosdimutsudax
of Twalosdimut(j)(k).

dusnuskimndls-kidax
the moose-skins(?)

(2) Recorded as song VII D 3la, National Museum of Canada; singer, Jim
Pollard.

(2) That is: The goods which I am about to distribute advise me. This state-
ment is not to be taken literally.

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

(2) Refers to the dancer’s many prerogatives.

(e) Refers to his male relatives.

(f) The dancer had obtained several prerogatives from ancestors, traced patri-
lineally.

(g) A reference to the dancer’s origin myth (I, p. 329). The house of his
first forefather, isyuyuyut, had its door in a back corner instead of the centre front.

(4) That is: Whence were distributed at potlatches.