WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 25

The first night is ésexta/aix or isuxtémem.® This is when the
call comes to a prospective dancer. This may be heralded by
whistling from above, made by a kusiut sent with a whistle to
a neighbouring mountain for the purpose, by a thud on the
roof, likewise produced by an accomplice, or by no intimation
whatever. The dancer utters a low call, sometimes begins to
walk in circles with bent head, or to act in some other peculiar
manner, while a whistle sounds repeatedly. The uninitiated
are at once expelled from his house and a herald informs the
village that something strange has come upon the dancer. The
kukustut gather in his house, and four times help him by the
frenzied, but regular, beating of sticks. Then the singers
sing a song previously prepared, the words describing either
his patron or the land above. After listening closely, the
kukusiut join in and rehearse it until it is familiar. The dancer
may or may not perform; if he is inadept in the steps, he does
so for practice. If the hour is not too late, the singers may
choose, purely for practice, to beat out a number of the songs
of those kukusiut who have already performed during the cere-
monial season. A meal, provided by the dancer and his family,
is then served. The singers next beat out the dancer’s song
once more and he dances, concluding the evening’s perform-
ance. Novices and those who have already performed during
the season take up their abode in the dancer’s house, where
they remain for the ensuing four days and nights.

The second day is nustutalsap.’ Quite early in the morning
a herald calls the Aukusiut to the dancer’s house, an invitation
accepted by as many as wish to doso. A second song is usually
composed and practised in the same manner as on the previous
evening. Several kukusiut are sent to the forest to cut wood
for masks, the number of sections required depending upon the
number to be used. In the evening all members of the society
assemble to practise the songs.’ The making of the masks

‘In Kimsquit called 4éewolitunum.

‘The term gai-nuxs is occasionally used for the rites occurring on the day
itself.

The rehearsal of the second is sometimes postponed until this time.