288 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

B Séostxtxaxwao | olasutts ska ipsdutsdai dismét-umxdjs
Go within my house, | I am giving food | to my friends.

[woRDLEss cHoRUS]

C The third part of this song has been forgotten.

(2) Recorded as song VII D 28b, National Museum of Canada; singer, Jim
Pollard. It is said that this song has been handed down for generations in an
ancestral family; they now regard it as a family possession and would consider
its use by others to be stealing.

(2) Many years ago a solitary Bella Bella used to paddle to Kimsquit almost
every year. He was dressed like a chief and had the mien of one, so that his
hosts assumed him to be a person of importance. It was later found that he was
a poor man. The mocking of foreigners is a common theme of a’a/k songs.

am’ lel-a. Song Used for Xtmximlaix(a)

A Nuiwultukéxénamqwaisan | st?xwosmaikila
He has fallen so that his buttocks are uppermost, | Hail(4)!

Damunmutsan-imut skusiutdas
He has come to hurt, | that kusiut(c).

[worDLEss cHoRvs]|

BandC. The second and third parts have been forgotten.

(a) Recorded as song VII D 3c, National Museum of Canada; singer, Jim
Pollard.

(2) A mockingly deferential salutation used in a’a/k songs describing the kukusiut.

(c) Xumxumlaix was an a’alk who is said to have seen a Cannibal kusiut when
the latter was supposed to be in the land above. A song was composed about the
incident, and the above fragment has been remembered for many years. Xumxum-
laix was initiated into the kusiut society; see vol. II, p. 265.

As already described, whenever a dancer is performing, the
women utter a peculiar high-pitched drone and the heralds call
out remarks suitable to the occasion. A phonograph record*
was made of the drone, followed by a cry suitable for either
susaok or a’alk dances. The following words are virtually sung:

Yelosaidimut staltmxakats
Do not err, chiefs.

3Recorded as song VII D 29c, National Museum of Canada.