182 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

of which is a similar bird that disappears within the rod by the
pulling of a cord. This being is patron of other kukusiut, but
this does not debar X from displaying him at his ceremonial.
Ogotikts Alguntim goes around the fire, moving his head in a
jerky fashion over his shoulder as if motioning towards some-
thing, and Ano°likwoisaix explains that he was issuing an invi-
tation on behalf of Aguntdm.

Then the matting is drawn aside to expose the figures of
Xemxemalotia, Xemcua, Omgomkilka, Aimdlotta, Atamkilka,
9omcua, Qwlaxwoa, Kwlilias, dimak*, and Thitcaplitin-a, each
wearing a mask with his distinctive painting on it. Xemxemé-
lotta stands in the centre as chief of the party; he calls out
impressively, but without using words, then, as he changes his
tone, all the figures turn around sunwise, shouting as they do
so. After this has been repeated four times, the matting 1s
restored to place. During this, Kwlilias and dimak~ do not
remain stationary like the others. The former, wearing good
blankets and a mask painted with red to give the appearance
of an angry man, moves constantly to and fro among the other
beings as if trying to obtain presents from them, while dimék*,
the Kingfisher, hops around in imitation of the jerky motions
of that bird, continually poking his head forward and pulling
it back. When they have vanished, Ano/ikwotsaix tells the
uninitiated who were the figures they have just seen, and how
fortunate they are to be visited by such powerful beings.

After the usual pause, there appears Thunder’s herald,
Aixwoldtinum, wearing a mask in human form and carrying 4
staff in his hand. He beats violently on the floor with his rod
and cries out:

“Come all ye supernatural ones to the dance of Thunder.”

At once T¥ogors either rushes forth or sticks his head over
the matting and bellows forth:

“No! No! Don’t come.”

After Afxwoldtinum has circled the fire and retired to the
enclosure he can still be heard violently pounding on the floor
and inviting the people to Thunder’s dance.