D'SONOQUA - The Wild Woman of the Woods

References:

Plate 6, Figure 1. Dance Mask. — Kwakiutl.
Plate 7, Figure 5. Legend of D'sonoqua (Dzo-'Noq'Wa) .

This mythical character was held in great awe by the people.

2 New the great Chief Food-Giver had for his daughter a very
disobedient young Princess whom he often threatened with punish-—
ment. It happened one day that D'sonoqua suddenly descended from
her home in the woods and carried off the young girl. Without
delay, in spite of his threats of punishment, the Chief sent his
warriors to rescue her in which they succeeded but were furiously
pursued by the Wild Woman. Seeing a great mass of people gathered
to resist her D'sonoqua instantly increased her size to that of
a spruce tree of medium growth. Then the warriors bit their ton-
gues and spit out the blood at their terrifying foe, who at once
dwindled to her usual size. But this treatment by the warriors
was called for four times in succession before she was conquered
and even begged to be allowed to become the slave of Chief Food-
Giver and serve the young Princess. She also showed a beautiful
dance which delighted the Chief and his daughter but aroused
jealousy among the warriors. This Princess took much trouble to
adorn her person and had her eyebrows cut and fashioned into a
form which attracted the admiration of this Wild Woman, who beg-
ged that her eyebrows might be similarly shaped. To this consent
was given; but when the time came she was told she must shut her
eyes firmly lest the sharp knife used should injure them. Then
instead of performing the asked for decoration the jealous war-
rior directed the sharp, chisel-like knife to her skull, drove it
into her brain with force and instantly this terror-striking
creature was destroyed. Then all the people went to the wood,
to the Wild Woman's house, which they found to be full of valuable
skins and many other things which they carried.off to their
own village. (Boas and Hunt, p. 430.)

This mask possesses added interest as offering a specimen
of one of those to which the Tsimsyan assigned special names
and was always painted black. Readers of "Klee Wyck" will re-
call Emily Carr's vivid word pictures of the impressions received
from the representation she saw of this terrifying mythical super-
natural being in a remote Indian village.

Seas