70 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

I..., and ao---,“! revolving sunwise at the same time.

Ano likwotsaix does not fail to point out to the uninitiated:

“That is the way he sings up above. Look at him! That
is what he does in his own home.”

If foreigners, guests for the potlatch, are in attendance,
Anolikwotsaix adds that the supernatural beings are disap-
pointed at having been called too late for it. Then the unini-
tiated are expelled, the masks burnt, and the kukuszut disperse.

A few further notes are necessary on this dance. Ifa pot-
latch is to be given after the kusiut season, the calling of these
supernatural beings is sometimes reserved as the last kusiut
dance, and any foreigners present, as uninitiated guests, are
told that the beings have come for the ceremony. There is
thus a superficial appearance of confusion between these kusiut
patrons and sisaok deities. It is nothing more than a resem-
blance, since the nine brothers do not appear at the potlatch,
and nothing is said to explain their absence; it is merely a
subterfuge to increase the interest of the rite. Nor is any
connection necessary; in fact, X usually obtains his call like
any other kusiut, without the spectacular throwing of presents
on the fire. In this case X and the marshals consult and select
the proper day for the beginning of the ceremony. On the
night preceding that chosen, the kukusiut are called to X’s
house and one of the marshals announces that he can hear X’s
call wanting to come to him. He answers simply:

—heamea fraid..

The uninitiated are not expelled from X’s house, so that
they learn what is to take place. No ritual occurs on that
evening, but one of X’s friends remains constantly with him,
as if to assist in any emergency. Kukusiut are often sent up
the slopes of the neighbouring mountains with whistles which
the uninitiated hear, and which lead them to believe that
supernatural beings are in the vicinity.

414 phonographic record was made of this; National Museum of Canada, record
VII D 6b; singer, Jim Pollard.