WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 205

second of the whole performance. The ritual js of the regular
type with the composition and practising of a song.

During the evening of the next day, nusiutélsap, the usual
carpentry tasks are allotted. Only three masks are required,
one of Ano°likwotsaix and two of supernatural beings termed
Mitletsta, as if they had the power to lengthen or curtail the
lives of human beings. The ritual on qottim warrants no spe-
cial description. Late in the afternoon of nebusam the kukusiut
assemble in X’s home and the uninitiated are presently startled
to see them all rush forth with three masked figures in their
midst. Assuming, of course, that these are supernatural visi-
tors, the frightened non-members retreat to their houses where
they peer forth at the figures as they parade up and down the
shore beside the river. They can easily recognize AnoVikwois-
aix, but not her two companions whose faces are painted black
and white, and who have projecting, snout-like mouths. After
this promenade and a certain amount of dancing, the party
retires to X’s house whither the uninitiated are presently sum-
moned. The two Muletsta dance around the fire while Ano°lik-
woisaix explains their power over the lives of mortals. The
kukusiut soon ask the uninitiated to withdraw and the cere-
mony ends in the customary manner.

X must perform this full ritual at least once after obtaining
his kusiut name with respect to it, but on later occasions he
can, if he so desires, limit himself to the second part of the
ceremony with the appearance on earth of the Mitletsta.

THE DANCE OF THUNDER

According to Bella Coola belief, the supernatural ones in
the upper land resemble human beings in performing susiut
dances. Like mortals, some of those above are more powerful
and more feared than others, but the senior kusiut among them
is Thunder. Corresponding to the prowess of his patron, the
dance of his human protégé is one of the most important dusiut
rituals. The essential feature of it is that Thunder calls all
supernatural beings to witness his dance, and in consequence