356 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

the body to his own house, preparatory to burying it. It was April, but
as they were waiting, a violent thunderstorm blew up from the east, the
only time that such had ever occurred at that season. Thunder had
promised to come to Xzutti’s aid, but the latter had died too suddenly
to make any appeal; the supernatural one had just learnt of his pro-
tégé’s death and had come rushing to his assistance. Realizing the
danger, the executioner and his friends hastily buried the corpse, throwing
over it a number of blood-stained cloths, and finally stamping down the
earth. There wasa furious hurricane; trees were uprooted, houses shook,
the earth over the grave seethed as if in a whirlpool and chunks of it
were carried up into the air. Only the potency of the blood on the
cloths prevented the return to life of Xnuit1.®

This second unsuccessful attack on the Kitkatla so disheartened the
Bella Coola that they made no more raids on their northern foemen who,
flushed with victory, became even bolder than before. As usual, the
Kimsquit and Té/-io people suffered more than the inhabitants of the
main valley. On one of these forays, about 1855, the Kitkatla killed
Qoixweliot#, a brother of Pottes, the leading chief of the Bella Coola at the
time. This was contrary to all the rules of warfare since he was a member
of one of the leading families and the donor of many potlatches, a man
whose name was as well known as that of Potts, Nukdpunkam of Fort
Rupert, or Teiusa himself. The fame of such chiefs was enough to protect
them except during the actual heat of conflict, and the Bella Coola were
justly angry.

A few years later a single canoe came paddling up North Bentinck
Arm and was beached about half a mile from the head. Scouts investi-
gated, and returned to Yomgo-ts with news that the occupants were
Kitkatla, and that Tcvdisa himself was among them. At once there was
heated discussion among the people of the lower valley. Many who had
lost relatives in the protracted struggle wished to wipe out the party;
others, to see what they wanted. A few daring individuals skulked
through the forest and fired on the visitors at long range; they were
answered, not with bullets, but by the four times holding aloft of a moose-
skin, a sign of friendly intentions. Ifthe strangers had fired on the scouts,
a fight would have ensued, but this peaceful reception disarmed suspicion.

Sepaan rene Seem ON er Ie

8This tale is a curious illustration of the manner in which supernatural elements
become woven into accounts which have an historical basis. It is to be assumed
that the wanderers were in a suggestible state owing to privation, and readily
believed that supernatural powers must have assisted them. Xmui?i was feared
as a sorcerer, and probably boasted of a visitation from Thunder during his wan-
derings. This was accepted and the incorporation of impossible incidents followed
in due course.