82 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

Raven, perhaps made conceited by this power, did not
always use it for good purposes. He learnt many new inven-
tions which he taught to the Bella Coola, but sometimes he
indulged in adventures of an obscene nature. In fact, he was
often too ‘smart.’ The Bella Coola relate many tales con-
cerning his exploits. These are all mere stories, such as can
be told by anyone, and they fall into two classes. One com-
prises humorous anecdotes, describing how Raven tried to
show off, to outwit other birds and animals, and his consequent
discomfiture. These belong to the realm of mythology and
are recorded in vol. II, chap. v. In addition, there are stories
describing the inventions and boons obtained by Raven; these
are given in detail here as the only satisfactory means of illus-
trating the attitude of the Bella Coola towards Raven.

The first Raven, to whom 4/quntém granted such power, is
not regarded as a bird, but essentially as a superman, with the
kindly characteristics of a human being, and the weakness of
a conceited individual who is always trying to display his
prowess. The ordinary word used for a raven is qwax, but
this first Raven is properly referred to by his titles as chief,
Nowakila; Sanuximdxots, “The Light-Bringer”’; Kitatxam-
xwis, “The Wise One”; Nwoxwattamnaix, “The Widener” ;*
Qunqwinim utdida sxem, “The Unlooser of Light” ;* 9ax-dxwsila,
Qwai-lis, and Qowi. The Bella Coola do not explain what
happened to this first Nowaki/a; he appears to have dropped
out of existence, and his power has not been transmitted to his
descendants, the ravens of today. They are regarded as birds,
with but the slightest trace of their ancestor’s greatness. The
Bella Coola know of the beliefs of the Kitkatla concerning
Raven, and say that in the north he is esteemed only a little
less than the supreme deity himself. But in Bella Coola the
exploits of Raven are always considered to be due to the power
given him by Afguntdém, whose assistant he was, although he
delighted to show his own prowess by outwitting his maker.

2*Because he is supposed to have widened rivers for several of the first settlers.
Owing to the manner in which Raven is supposed to have unveiled the sun.