370 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

sand. None were to be seen, but after a short delay they proceeded
homewards where they were welcomed with wild rejoicing. It was well
that they had returned promptly since messengers had been sent imme.
diately to Newitte, Fort Rupert, Alert Bay, and other Kwakiutl towns,
A strong force was gathered as soon as possible and went straight to
Indian Cove, knowing that the Bella Coola would be likely to camp there,
When they found that the raiders had already gone by, they pursued no
further.

After this victory, the Bella Coola suffered less from the southern
raiders. As before, occasional canoes came north to seize unprotected
fishermen or berry-pickers, but the Kwakiutl had learnt a salutary lesson
and were less bold than formerly. About four years later, they formed a
large expedition to attack the Bella Coola, but the latter were fortunate
enough to have it deflected by an accident.

Some four years before the Bella Coola victory, a Bella Bella chief
had decided to give an elaborate potlatch at which he would display an
ancestral prerogative consisting of twelve stepped platforms within his
house. This meant that a large excavation had to be made, around
which the stagings were built in receding tiers. The prerogative of
building such a house was not unusual, but this was the largest ever
known and eight years were spent in its construction. When at last it
was finished, the owner prepared to invite guests from all the coastal
tribes, including the Kwakiutl. As his envoys to them, heading south-
ward, passed Tcimgwle, near Koeye River in Fitzhugh Sound, they met
a canoe and promptly blew their whistles to make known their business.
Instead of veering over to the other side of the channel, the craft was
paddled alongside that of the potlatch messengers, who realized that the
crew were warriors; it was, in fact, the advance guard of the Kwakiutl
expedition against the Bella Coola. Before leaving, the men had sworn
to kill every person whom they met, either forgetting or deliberately
overlooking the possibility of encountering potlatch envoys.!8 Now that
the time came to carry out their oath, the occupants of the leading canoe
hesitated; they had failed to grant it right of way, but feared to begin
killing, and while they dallied, the second craft ranged up on the other
side. Its crew likewise hesitated to kill the messengers, and waited for
the third, and they for the fourth. As usual, the expedition had been
travelling with the canoes in single file, those from each village together,
with the leader in the rear craft of his detachment. Within a few minutes,
the chief of the leading town came up to the Bella Bella messengers, but

13News of a coming potlatch was usually circulated so, that the Kwakiutl were

probably aware of the possibility of meeting messengers, and seem to have delib-
erately agreed to break the law to mark their passion for revenge.