86 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

tive. Hence compensation must be given. Payment for wounds
inflicted is really parallel to payments to witnesses of any other
prerogative; without their assistance X would not have been
able to display his right. Long ago Cannibals are said to have
had teeth of such sharpness that they were able to take pieces
from the bodies of their victims with ease and quickness. In
more recent years, it has been customary for a person about
to be bitten to cut himself with a knife so that, when the Can-
nibal seizes him, a simple sucking at the chosen part will bring
forth blood. In view of the honour attached to being bitten,
no person to whom such a proposal is made would think of
refusing. As previously mentioned, Cannibals do not bite
other Cannibals, Scratchers, Breakers, or those whose patrons
are ghosts, otherwise their victims may comprise any kuku-
siut.°® Presents received by those bitten are called “Ban-
dages.”’ At the time of such payment gifts are usually given
to all kukusiut, with additional compensation for the sufferers.

Now that X has eaten ordinary food it is supposed that he
is again normal, although special precautions must be taken
for the rest of the winter since he is subject to returning fits of
frenzy. Consequently, he is never allowed to be alone, but is
always followed by a number of kukusiut whose function ap-
pears to the uninitiated to be to guard them from the Cannibal.
The sight of strangers suffices to rouse him, so that when a
canoe from T4/.io or Kimsquit approaches, a herald bids the
uninitiated conceal themselves. On their arrival X rushes to
the beach, apparently in spite of his guardians’ restraint, and
honours several of the strangers by biting them, as he did
before he was able to eat ordinary food. On such occasions
he then visits every house, attended by his escort, before re-
turning to his own. Inside each dwelling he growls, cries out
xWa-, xwWa-, xwa-, and sometimes shakes or tears off the

Every effort is made to convince the uninitiated of the severity of the wounds
inflicted. For example, if a kusiut woman is suffering from some malady of the
breast which requires an operation, a Cannibal bites her there and non-members
are told that the incision, made about the same time, was caused by his teeth.