186 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

speak on this occasion as the explanation has already been
given.

After a short pause the announcer calls impressively:

“Take care! The haohao are coming.”

From within the enclosure there is heard the clacking of
beaks, and presently a Aaohao backs out. The mask, about
three feet in length, is that of a long-beaked bird, of which the
lower mandible can be made to strike against the upper to
cause the snapping noise. The wearer has little clothing but
much dyed cedar-bark which conceals the stick that runs from
the mask down his back to counterbalance the weight of the
projecting beak. Another haohao likewise comes out back-
wards, then a third and a fourth. The four dance around the
fire, snapping their beaks and uttering their cry, Hao, hao,
hao, in unison to the stamp of their feet on the floor. X, with
three assistants, accompanies them, apparently out of respect
to the supernatural visitors and to guard the uninitiated from
them in case they should become ferocious, but in reality to
direct the steps of the actors whose cumbersome masks pre-
vent them from seeing where they are going. A touch from
one of the guides, or even the sound of his voice, is enough to
tell the gyrating performer in which direction to move. When
the haohao have disappeared, Ano’ likwotsaix explains who the
visitors were.

Next appears a Snail. The mask used is human in form,
and the painting may or may not indicate the being repre-
sented. The wearer proceeds very slowly around the fire,
turning neither to right nor to left, and withdraws. 4o°/ik-
wotsaix explains that this is a Snail from Nusqulxwaista which
has come to visit X.

Another man-like figure now comes forth, his mask painted
to represent a fish. Like the Snail he circles the fire without ~
any special type of dance and withdraws. This is the Red
Rock Cod, a fact which A4no°likwotsaix makes clear to the
uninitiated.

Finally, the time comes when the last supernatural visitor