226 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

No detailed description is needed for the ceremonial on
either musiutdlsap or gottum. On the evening of the former day
the masks are ordered; one for 4siuténem, who appears to be
confused with the Moon itself, one for each Aigwaiust, one for
each Snitsman-a, and one for Anolikwotsaix.

Late in the afternoon the kukusiut assemble in X’s house
to see that everything is in good shape. A large mat has been
spread across the back wall of the house and on it a disk repre-
senting the Moon, with a human face in the middle. After the
usual discussion the uninitiated are called in. Each Snitsmdn-a
remains standing alone in the two back corners of the house,
while the two 4igwaiust are in the central space behind the
fire, constantly waving their arms to and fro. Suddenly the
Moon itself appears against the matting. A carpenter, con-
cealed behind the screen, directs its course so that it moves in
a short arc across the background and disappears; Ano°/tk-
wotsaix explains to the uninitiated that this is the track of the
new Moon, low down on the horizon. A second time it “rises,”
and moves across in a longer and higher curve, which 4no%Zk-
woisaix says is the longer orbit of the waxing Moon. On its
third course it is still higher, and on its fourth appearance it
moves across the full width of the house near the roof, which
Anolikwotsaix describes as the course of the full Moon, far
above the mountains. She also explains that we are indebted
to Snitsmén-a for cleaning the Moon’s face after the Aigwaiust
have blackened it, as otherwise no light would be visible. This
ends the spectacle; the uninitiated are sent away, and the
ceremonial concludes in the manner already described.

This constitutes the Moon dance as practised during the
ceremonial season, but in addition X is required to dance when-
ever his patron is hidden by an eclipse. On such occasions the
ritual is identical with that described for an eclipse of the Sun.

THE DANCE OF THE MURDERED SLAVE
_ One of the chieftains who came to earth in the beginning of time was
Atiximotusaix, whose wealth was so great that he was able to invite his
associates from far and near to potlatches, and thus acquire many sisaok