CHAPTER XX.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

TRADITIONAL ORIGIN.

Secret Societies exist in some form among all races, whether primitive or
nominally civilized, and suggest survival from very ancient ceremonials.

In the case of these North-west tribes they possessed features distinctive from
those found in other communities. ‘There is reason to believe that these Secret
Societies were brought to the Coast by the Kwakiutl, who introduced them to the
Haida and Tsimshian. They spread to the Bella Coola and Nootka, and, to a
less extent, to the Coast Salish. Little recognized among tribes of Interior
Salish origin, they were known to those farther north merely from occasional
contact with the Tsimshian and Kwakiutl.

Dr. Boas is of opinion that they developed from methods of warfare, pointing
out that the Kwakiutl deity, Winda’lagyilis, whose name means “the one who
makes war upon the whole world,” presided over the whole ceremonial, his spirit
being the recognized controller of these people during warfare. All the oldest
songs refer to war, and the most prominent dancers in the Ha’mats’a, the Bear
and the Fool Secret Society dances, were considered warriors, who went into
ecstasles as soon as an enemy was killed.

Another reason for crediting the Kwakiutl with the origin of these societies
is the predominantly religious element by which they were characterized. It will
be recalled that under the duplicate system of social organization distinctive of
this tribe the winter half of the year was apportioned to the practice of religious
rituals. During this season its members were divided into a number of groups,
each of which corresponded to a Secret Society. Each group held a separate feast,
at which a dish of food had to be sent to the Chief of all Secret Societies, the
Ha’mats’a or “ Man-eaters,” before the food might be tasted. ‘These groups
were known as: (1) Old Men; (2) Young Men, the Killers: (3) Married
Women, the Dams; (4) Unmarried Girls, the Partridges; (5) Old Chiefs,
Those who eat continually; (6) Children, the Crows.

Further support for this opinion is found in the fact that the Kwakiutl also
believed that it was during these winter months, to which Secret Society celebra-
tions were confined, that the inhabitants of the spirit world, represented therein,
were in specially close contact with human beings.

DETAILS OF SECRET SOCIETY CEREMONIALS.

The significance of many of these ceremonials remains obscure. They were
superintended by shamans, their details were under the direction of responsible
officials, and those who took part wore masks and costumes representing the mem-
bers of the spirit world from whom each dance and song was derived. If a
dancer made a mistake in the intricate movements or rhythm of the song he must
fall as if dead, and ran the risk of being seriously mauled or killed by the par-
ticular impersonators appointed to discipline such culprits.

Transgression of Secret Society regulations was punishable by death, though
the curious custom obtained that, after this sentence was pronounced by the
Council of Chiefs, the culprit was asked if he were willing to suffer the penalty.
If reluctant to do so, a relative might offer to act as substitute. The execution
of the sentence was entrusted to the shamans, who bewitched the condemned
person to his death either by disease or by poison.

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