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318 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

Song Used for Alamtci, a Bella Coola Thunder(a) Dancer(s)

A Istéxkitikimétatutsduks | yao tésixwin-imut-atsdax | Gttasiknuwasamtais
atx waltuwat-itsats

I cannot tell whence comes what(c) I hear, I cannot tell where it is; there is
nothing but fog above, I am in trouble(d).

[WORDLESS CHORUS]
B Alqwalxwekmem-akudai | sé-lanskamdimutdasdai | dinunuqumlaixdusdai

yaiyulatimutsudat
The hands of everyone helped Yu/atimut(e) in the wonderful works he was doing
for himself; all wanted him to do the same for them(f).

[WORDLESS CHORUS]
C. Sononstkixk-umétimquwdai | diyaiyexdimutdasdai diatpikmelosdusdai
Is moving again the fire-holder(g), it is being shaken by

saiuttatkilasudat
Thunder (4).

(a) Afamtci has two patrons, Thunder and Yulétimut. During the winter of
1923-4 he was initiated into the kusiut society as a Thunder dancer; in the following
song, reference is made to both his patrons, but he would have to be introduced
once more, with a second name, before he could dance with respect to Yulatimut.

(2) Recorded as song VII D 51, National Museum of Canada; quartet, Reuben
Schooner, leader, Jim Pollard, announcer and prompter, assisted by Ta/-io Charlie
and Steamboat Annie. This song, composed by Té/-io Charlie, was used during
the kusiut season of 1923-4.

(c) Referring to the call.

(d) It was impossible to obtain an individual translation for each of these sub-
divisions.

(e) One of the dancer’s patrons.

(f) It was impossible to obtain an individual translation for each of these sub-
divisions.

(g) That is: The fire-holder is moving again. The reference is to the article
shaken by Thunder which causes lightning. In dances, this is shown as a hollow
rattle containing smouldering cedar-bark of which fragments are scattered in all
directions.

(hk) The dancer’s second patron.

Fragment of a Song Used for Nexnéx-mélosaix, a Bella Coola Ghost Dancer(a)

A Qis-kwatstatimotitox Aiyawastwinutsmim

Why is there no name(4)? | Each(c) speaks proudly of himself(d);

Sstciqwattayasudai
their shin-bones.

dinulgwtamitsandai
they use as house posts(e)

[WORDLESS CHORUS]
The rest of this song has been forgotten.