RELIGION 55

of the ocean, one of the members is awakened by the rhythm-
ical beat of the paddles of the War-Party of the Tide. If he
is wise he at once calls out, “Hi....’ This serves to
keep the War-Party at a distance, and to waken the rest of
the party who hastily throw on the fire objects which have
been in contact with the human body.

Many stories are told by the Bella Coola of the appearance
of the War-Party of the Tide. The following can be regarded
as typical.

A few years ago, a hunter named Onikoi#, and his wife, Anuqwidls,
were encamped on Labouchere Channel at the point known as Nusgwi,
near the Hot Springs. They were discussing a private matter when,
to the amazement of both, their dog, who was with them, joined in the
conversation. This unnatural behaviour should have warned them of
approaching danger and they ought to have killed the animal, as indeed
the woman desired to do. But Onzikot? foolishly refused and presently
they lay down to sleep. In some mysterious manner the dog was able
to summon the War-Party of the Tide, which carried the two away.
When they awoke they were in the dread canoe, and the poison from
Sxlo-xi‘ was spreading over them. They were powerless and could only
lie still as the canoe travelled up South Bentinck Arm, circled the island
near Ta/-io at its head, and three other islands on the return journey.
The two were put ashore at their camp, apparently unharmed, but they
knew the danger to which they had been exposed and fled next day to
Kimsquit. The woman told a shaman what had happened and accepted
his somewhat drastic treatments. Consequently, though she showed
signs of insanity, she was cured. The headstrong Onzkoi?, on the other
hand, refused to pay attention to the danger; within a few weeks he
became crazy, and then died.

Quite another category of Bella Coola supernatural beings
consists of ghosts. These beings, once human, have passed by
death into the ranks of the supernatural. Their home is the
land below the earth, where they live like mortals except that
everything is strange and ethereal. In form they resemble
human beings, but their faces are green and weird. They can
visit the land of the living at will, and make their presence
known by whistling, which is their language. Their actions
are the reverse of those of humans; for example, they often