WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 129

elaborate myths dealing with the origin of the kusiotem dances.
They believe that they are performed by the supernatural
beings in the land above, and that long, long ago Aiquntém and
his associates held a meeting at which it was decided to send
them down to mortals. They chose as recipient a certain
Onixwalicua of Kimsquit, and the prerogative of giving
kusiotem dances has since been possessed by the owner of that
name.® The following accounts are of the dances performed
by a certain Onixwaltcua whom it will be convenient to
call X. He has six repositories, one for each section of
his dance.

As with all other kusiut prerogatives, the impetus to dance
can come only on receipt of a call from a supernatural patron,
the being Kutstkékmidjut in the case of all kusiotem dancers.
The uninitiated are told that a call “falls” on the recipient, and
moreover that for kusiotem dances it can take place only when
the supernatural beings are rushing out of the house above on
the entry of the sun at the winter solstice. Thus Rustotem
dances should take place after the winter solstice, although
this requirement has not been enforced in recent years.

The Stomach-Cutting Dance

In the early summer X decides to exercise his prerogative
the following winter. He informs one of the marshals of his
wish, and the latter summons his associates to the secret
meeting-place where the matter is debated at length. Danger
of exposure of details to the uninitiated is so great that the
marshals refuse permission for the performance unless the
would-be dancer is a man of proved reliability. Once this con-
sent has been obtained, X quietly proceeds with his prepara-
tions, laying in supplies of food and asking his kusiut friends
for their assistance. When the dances begin, X attends as do
all other kukusiut, though his secret mental excitement in-
creases as the time draws near for him to perform. The exact
time of starting is discussed with the marshals, and a prelimi-

There are other Ausiotem dancers in Bella Coola.