SONGS 309

(g) A reference to a wooden sidewalk in the land above, described sketchily to
impress the uninitiated.

(2) The significance is as follows: The Cannibal is so powerful that, as he walked
on the sidewalk, it trembled so that anyone else standing upon it was numbed as
if he had been holding a metal bar struck by a heavy hammer.

(i) Sexsexkalaix, the dancer’s patron, guards his path along the sidewalk by
shaking his fingers. This has the further implication of presents, since these are
referred to as dust flipped off during the shaking. The whole phrase is intentionally
obscure.

(j) The dancer’s patron.

Song Used for Exwuntnam, a Kwakiutl(a) Cannibal Dancer(6)

A Sénuquwitinkidinitsisandja xdasdixwodjamaditsdai | dinunusgéxeménktidals

They(c) proffer me my own food(d), then cried
aiyaoyelgaominoaka-ts
Qaominoakale).
[worDLEss CHORUS]
B Sénuyexwlimitsck | yao Sexsexkalaixdai otdatknixGlosmisdai

They(f) called out, | hail, Sexsexkalaix(g),

when wanted to eat
yao Baxbéxqwandlosyua
Baxbéxqwandlociwa(h).

[WORDLESS CHORUS]

C Wasnuséxdimutlaoats | wagwatt¢watinusamais | wasnuhaohaowalsas
They come to me the masks(#), the Aaohao(j)

yebexbexquwaiyasudax

of Béxbéxqwaiya(k).

(2) This man had long been resident in Bella Coola and decided to perform his
Kwakiutl dance, to the great interest of the Bella Coola. This took place during
the kusiut season of 1923-4, the first time that such had ever occurred.

(4) Recorded as song VII D 44, National Museum of Canada; singer, Jim
Pollard. The song was composed by Kimsquit Alec, and is probably translated
from the Kwakiutl.

(c) That is: The supernatural beings.

(¢Z) That is: Human flesh.

(e) This is a Kwakiutl supernatural being, the dancer’s patron, and equivalent
to the Bella Coola Skwandt-én-a. The dancer’s call consequently rose and fell as
at a mourning rite.

(f) That is: The supernatural beings.

(g) That is: Sexsexkdlaix and the other supernatural ones called out.

(4) Thatis: When Baéxdaxqwandlociwa wanted to eat the dancer during his sojourn
aloft. Baxbaéxqwandlociwa is a Kwakiutl supernatural being who is model to their
Cannibal dancers.