42 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

approaches the Bella Coola River, and proceeds up it, beneath
the surface of the water, invisible to all. Its destination 1s
Smaien-a, whence its captain leaps to Nusgulxwaista to await
the coming of Afguntdm. The crew consists of a number of
supernatural beings, who will be described in connection with
the ceremonial on the night of zebusam. This canoe, which
brings the salmon and berries to Bella Coola, has four masts
but no sails, and is enormous. Whenever the weather is fine,
Nodkxnum lowers first one side and then the other of his craft
so that the salmon may leave; after swimming around for a
time they always return, refreshed by their exercise. In former
times when people were purified by ceremonial chastity, sev-
eral succeeded in seeing the craft, and from them it is known
that it is about six hundred yards in length, that it travels
without leaving a wake, that any canoes passing near are
sucked along after it, and that a mallard duck, perched on the
bow, quacks continuously. Intelligent informants agreed that
the bringing of the salmon during the autumn was inconsistent,
but they could offer no explanation. One man believed that
this was pointed out not many years ago by a man whose
patron was Nodkxnum, but that the marshals requested him
not to upset established ritual by too much logic. Nodkxnum
is patron for several kukusiut, who are believed by the unint-
tiated to be able to see his canoe. As he passes up the river
the kusiut dances begin.

It is unnecessary to describe the full ritual in each village,
as this is supposed to be identical, and probably contains only
slight variations, if any. In Tcumot? the kusiut who has the
prerogative of seeing Nodkxnum is a certain Qoxotén1,* in
Kimsquit, Huskinwasam,* and in Siskiutt?, Xemtnum. Althougil

Details of this dance were learnt from the father of Qoxo7dn-i, who intimated
that the name was a family possession. Several months later an old woman
referred to the lending of this designation by her father and said that the present
user had failed to return it. Bitter feelings are often caused by disputes of this
kind.

16Meaning “Cloud Covered,” a reference to the invisibility of his patron, as
if the latter were hidden by clouds. Many kusiut names have significances of this
type.