THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

on the northern side of the Bella Coola valley, east of the
Necleetsconnay. Before merging their waters with North
Bentinck Arm the three flow more slowly and there are exten-
sive tide-flats (see Plate 8). Several villages formerly clustered
around their mouths.

(1) Qamex: on the west bank of the Necleetsconnay about
three-quarters of a mile from the sea. Nothing is known of
this long-abandoned village of which even the name is uncer-
tain. The mountain that rises behind its site is called Dame,
and it is supposed that the village had the same designation.
Some of the older people state that there was no town, only a
temporary hunting station, at this spot.

(2) Tasélamx, “Short Feet’: on the very shore of North
Bentinck Arm, west and north of the mouth of the Necleets-
connay. The fiord terminates in a tolerably square end, run-
ning north and south, and this town was at the northern edge.
It was built on piles and the inhabitants could step to the
ground only at low tide. This is the explanation given of the
peculiar name, a reference to the curtailed walking space.
Long ago it was a large town, but was probably occupied only
during the winter. In summer the people are believed to have
moved to Numém 4c, ‘‘The Place of Flies,” on the north side
of North Bentinck Arm, about one mile from its head.

*(3) Algdldixt, “The Fenced Town,” so called because it was
stockaded: near the south bank of the Pe-as/a, about a quarter
of a mile from the sea, near the site of the present mission
church. It was inhabited until about 1870. According to
one informant this village was founded by a certain Taxtexwam,
a descendant of Taiakwala, who decided to move close to the
river.

(4) T#ogo-t#, “Small Mound,” so called from the knoll on
which it was situated: above A/galax?, and about one-half
mile to the north of the present Bella Coola River. Its site is
crossed by the road connecting the Indian village of Bella
Coola with the white settlement of the same name.