34 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

Atquntém is occasionally, but inaccurately, called Simx, the
Sun.

Though Azguntém often sojourns in the sun, his home is
in the flat land above the sky, a huge house which figures
prominently both in Bella Coola mythology and present-day
thought. The name of the house is Nusmdt-a. It resembles
those constructed on this earth, but is boundless in size. Like
the houses of human beings, its name is changed according to
what is taking place within. Every autumn the supernatural
beings gather there to await the coming of 4/guntaim at the
winter solstice; while waiting they pass the time by per-
forming the equivalent of the earthly kusiut dances (II, chap.
1). This assemblage is termed gu/xwaix, and the house, during
this period, Nusqulxwaista.

The following names of the house, with meanings, were
obtained:

Nusmdt-a, “The Place of Myths.”

Nusqwatinaista, ““Where Everything Was Begun.”

Nuskatatnumsta, “The Place Whence Came the Falling
Down.”

Nustimnanumsta, “The Place Where Mankind was Made.”

Nusatquntamsta, “The Place Where Aiguntém Speaks.”

Nusqulxwaista, ““The Place of the Qulxwaix.”

Nuspskunsta, “The Place of Meeting,’ or “The Council
House.”

Nuisaxm4éls. The meaning of this word is unknown.

Anuxwotsekmals, “The Moving House.” The significance
of this last name rests on an ancient myth in which the house
is described as travelling from place to place.

To grasp the significance of these designations it is neces-
sary to understand the beliefs of the Bella Coola concerning
the creation. Their mythology contains no account of the
origin or birth of A7guntém himself, nor of the making of this
world; in the beginning of time no living creature, either
animal or vegetable, existed with the exception of Aguntam.
He, therefore, decided to alter and populate the world and