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358 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

killed, his reputation would only be increased by the manner of his death,
At length Ne-xwinkai fired into the air; not until a shower of eagle down
was blown forth did anyone realize that his musket had been loaded with
nothing more deadly. This marked the establishment of friendly
relations.

The Kitkatla had brought their own singers, who now began to beat
out time for Tcwusa to perform a sisaok dance. He was followed by several
other chiefs, and then the strangers gave presents to influential Bella
Coola on the most lavish scale. Poffes likewise performed a sisaok dance,
and bestowed gifts on the guests to validate it; such were, of course, not
returnable. A meal was then served, and after that Tewisa made a
speech of which the gist was that the Bella Coola had previously known
his achievements as a warrior, they now knew his nobility and bravery
in risking his life, and that the name Tewdusa could never be forgotten,
irrespective of his own fate.

Teuusa left soon afterwards. It was somewhat difficult fully to com-
prehend his motive in thus risking his life. Undoubtedly his main object
was to display his valour and disregard of danger. Moreover, it gave
him an opportunity to impress these qualities upon the Bella Coola, and
thus to exhibit his prowess actually within the enemy’s camp, which must
have been a source of tremendous gratification to him. The alleged
motive, regret at killing a chief, may have been a contributory factor.

Although this visit was an intimation from Teidusa that the Bella
Coola need have no further fear of him, the suspicions of years could not
be immediately allayed; in fact, an occasional skirmish still took place
although Tewdisa himself refrained from fighting. A few years after his
visit to Bella Coola, Potées prepared to give a potlatch to which he deter-
mined to invite the northern chief. Many of the Bella Coola doubted
whether the Kitkatla warriors would respect the safe-conduct usually
afforded to envoys, and no one was anxious to bear the invitation. At
length six chiefs volunteered for the task and set out, though with many
misgivings. They stopped ez route at Bella Bella where a chief of that
tribe, Omxu, joined the party; he thought that he would have influence
with the Kitkatla and might add protection to the Bella Coola. Fearing
to be seen by any small Kitkatla bands, the delegation travelled only by
night until they could actually reach Tewdisa’s village. As they paddled
up, they indicated their mission by singing one of Poftes’s susaok songs.
On hearing this, Tcidisa asked one of his Bella Coola slaves whose song
it might be, and when he answered that it was one of Poftes’s, Tebisa
despatched a chief, Kwinao, to invite the guests to his house. Omy
was thankful when he saw this man approaching, since he felt that
it heralded a friendly welcome. The party was conducted to Tesdusa’s