60 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

Among the passengers in Nodkxnum’s canoe are a number
of singers, who replace the usual ones on this zebusam. Each
wears the same type of mask, painted with red diagonals, and
with white feathers®* projecting from the top.2” After the un-
initiated have gazed for some time upon the wonders, their
leader, Snutexwnimutik, takes his place and his followers begin
to beat out an ancient song, believed to be sung in Nodkxnum’s
craft as it nears Bella Coola. The theme is:

“See me, mortals, I am Nununatxikdimut Noadkxnum, the
dancer of Nodkxnum.”’

As the music starts, a figure rises from among the singers,
wearing a mask with heavy eye-brows”’ and carrying a light
staff about six feet in length, wound spirally with alternate
bands of dyed and undyed cedar-bark and crowned with a
tassel of dyed bark. Holding this in his hand he begins to
dance lightly, running back and forth a few steps at a time
in time to the beating of sticks, lifting his feet freely from the
ground, and bending back and forth in airy grace, all the while
waving his wand to and fro. There are no fixed steps, the only
essential is that he convey the impression of being light of foot
and a good dancer; accordingly, the person selected for this
purpose is one with these qualifications. As he moves, 4no%/ik-
woisaix explains to the uninitiated that this is Nununaixikdimut,
a dancer of great repute who accompanies Nodkxnum and guards
his singers. At this point dno°likwotsaix’s own song may or
may not besung. It never varies, and is believed to have been
handed down from dim antiquity. X himself must be the
singer, accordingly it can be sung only when the dancer has a
good voice. If this is the case, the marshals request him to
perform, and, if necessary, teach him the exact words. X,
standing behind the fire, sings alone and unaccompanied, then
the singers repeat the song in unison with the beating of their
sticks, and dno°likwoisaix herself dances, using, of course, the

feminine style. At this juncture the uninitiated must be ex-

2sChicken feathers are now used.
7One of these masks was purchased for the National Museum of Canada.
28One of these masks was obtained for the National Museum of Canada.