WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 123

obey one prohibition; he must not sleep with his wife for four
days.

Like a Cannibal, X is liable to frenzy for the rest of the
ceremonial season. During this period he remains secluded
within his house, and the uninitiated willingly avoid him,
believing. him to be mentally deranged. He attends every
kusiut dance, where his latent madness helps to frighten the
uninitiated. If strangers from Kimsquit or Té/-io visit Bella
Coola, he at once becomes frenzied, rushes to the beach and
scratches them, precisely as a Cannibal would do; in this case
he must be pacified in the same manner. A Scratcher always
saves goods to recompense scratched foreigners. If it is the
first time that X has danced, he must remain secluded for the
following summer, and give his ceremony the next winter.
During the warm months he remains within the back-room of
his house, and though some of the uninitiated know of his
presence, still believing him mad they do not intrude upon his
privacy. The coming of foreigners during this period excites
him to frenzy and he scratches them, irrespective of the time
of year.

It might be mentioned that some Scratcher names are indi-
cative of the dancer’s function, and others, such as “The Cause
of Fear,” have reference to his prowess.

THE BREAKER DANCE

When a Bella Coola speaks of the fear which kusiut dances
cause the uninitiated, he almost invariably cites in order the
Cannibal, Scratch, and Breaker dances. Kukusiut with these
three prerogatives have no more privileges than other members
of the society, nor are they considered superior in rank, but
similarity in their functions leads to an almost automatic
association. If questioned further, a Bella Coola will usually
say that he regards the Cannibal dance to be first, with the
Scratch and Breaker equal, but less important. Breakers share
with Cannibals and Scratchers the prerogatives of not black-
ening their faces; of having as theme for their songs the land