38 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

individual, other than an indefinite recollection of the amount
of goods used for his dyed cedar-bark. People always have
sufficient goods to validate kusiut prerogatives; in fact, if a
proud person gives too lavishly to confirm the initiation of a
relative, the marshals sometimes burn the goods, giving no
explanation other than that the uninitiated must not be led to
believe that a Ausiut ceremony is an affair of wealth like a
potlatch. Formerly, goods were given only at initiation cere-
monies, but between 1880 and 1890 a chief gave presents, in-
stead of food, at a dance. His example was followed, since
none was willing to be outdone, although such gifts are still
called ‘‘food.’’ The name of the donor is always announced,
whether he is the dancer himself or one of his relatives.

X, though now a member of the kuszut society, is still a
novice and cannot give a dance” until the next ceremonial
season, that is, until one year has elapsed. The marshals in-
struct him about his costume, and about the manner in which
he must deport himself during this period, matters which
depend to a considerable extent upon his prerogative. If he
is a Cannibal, Scratch, or Breaker dancer he must not eat
unsmoked salmon, nor must he enter a house in which either
a potlatch or a memorial potlatch is taking place. Failure to
obey this injunction would warrant punishment from a foreign
tribe. Unless his prerogative is to give one of these, or the
Ghost dance, he must keep his face constantly blackened.
Every novice must wear a collar of dyed cedar-bark. The
marshals warn him to be circumspect in dealing with unini-
tiated persons; he can talk to them, but it is most improper
for him to engage in any familiarity or frivolous play. Above
all, he must neither gamble nor take part in non-athletic games,

2A Cannibal novice, however, begins to exercise his prerogative immediately,
although he must also perform a complete dance the following year.

18This prohibition was once broken at Qomgo-ts. A skilled leader was required
to arrange the texts at a memorial potlatch and the only man fit for the purpose,
a resident of Sinx7, was a Cannibal novice. After much deliberation he was called

upon, but great care was taken to hide his identity and it was years before the
infraction became known.