SONGS 321

B Aiakésxitsmélotsandja attidék-énatidai | dikifomoméatutstdai
I was not good enough(d) | when came to me | my patron;
sumgumstqwosamatisindai
I told him so.
[woRDLEss CHORUS]
C Wasgotinuilots-ttsamdtsuks | amétags-amétimdai | digot?gottimdodai

No one passed outside his | within sight when blackened his face

house(e)
enitattaikilasudai

Moon(f).

(a) This song, composed by Reuben Schooner, was used during the kusiut season
of 1923-4.

(4) It was impossible to obtain individual translations for these three sub-
divisions.

(c) The reference is to the call. The meaning of this whole first part is highly
problematical; the references are intentionally obscure to impress the uninitiated.

(d) That is: I did not have sufficient goods to distribute for a ceremony.

(e) The theme here changes from a description of the dancer’s experience to an
account of his patron’s actions in the land above.

(f) That is: When Moon, the dancer’s patron, blackened his face, no one passed
even within sight of his house. As uninitiated are forbidden to pass in front of a
dwelling in which a kusiut dance is taking place, so supernatural beings avoid the
vicinity of Moon’s house when he is performing. The blackening of the face
refers to an eclipse, but has an added significance since it is an intimation of a dance.

As already described (II, p. 229), the Otter dance differs from
most kusiut rites and the songs are likewise peculiar. They do
not vary from year to year and the following example, used
during the season of 1923-4, contains many points of an unusual
nature, not even understood by the participants themselves.
It has only two parts, each with a different tune, and the per-
former carried out her rite by dancing in two distinct ways.
In the first part, she raised and lowered her fore-arms as is
customary, but followed this with a smoothing motion, as if
she were levelling upturned earth. The significance of this
seems to have been forgotten entirely.

Song Used for Kaxwtin-i, a Female Kimsquit Otter Dancer(a)

A Alatasulogodax yao dakisyumyumdax sawaskpakstnamsdax
It has always been so, | it() has no shame(c); | all see it