24 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

more difficult dramatic rites in which failure would lead to the
uninitiated learning the mysteries of the society, the matter is
debated at length. The writer was present at one meeting held
for this purpose, with regard to a performance which had not
been carried out for over thirty years. An air of solemnity
was evident throughout, as if each present realized the gravity
of the topic. The prospective dancer explained what he wished
to do, then anyone was at liberty to comment, and most of
those present took advantage of it, the marshals speaking last
of all. The influence of each speaker depended in part on the
type of kusiut dance which he himself had given, and in part
on his general status in the community as chief or otherwise,
an intangible position dependent on public estimation rather
than upon functional rights. In this case, after considerable
discussion, it was decided that the dancer could proceed with
his arrangements. But if there should be any doubt as to the
would-be performer’s ability, the marshals have no hesitation
in prohibiting his intended rite, and they often do so later it
rehearsals show that it is unlikely to be successful.

Refusal of permission to perform occurs only in case of the
more difficult dances, which include the Cannibal, Scratch,
Breaker, Fungus and Kusiotem. Members of the society
whose prerogatives are for one of these types are considered
as having greater importance than those who can merely sing
of some minor deity-patron; yet all are equally members of
the kusiut society, which is not graded according to the per-
formances of its members.

Many of the more difficult dances require weeks of pre-
paration, when it is sometimes said that the dancer has dis-
appeared to the land above. When he returns they usually
conclude in four nights, the time taken by those of a simpler
type. Each of these nights is known by an untranslatable
term, and, as it will be necessary to use these throughout, it
may assist the reader to summarize the ritual which takes
place on each. It can be assumed that it is a simple dance,
that is, one without elaborate preliminaries.