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40 REPORT—1890.

are not considered identical with them, as is the case among the
Kwakiutl. The father’s song which he sings when cleaning himself is
an invitation for the salmon to come, and is sung in their praise. On hear-
ing this song, and seeing the images and masks, the salmon are believed
to come in great numbers to see the twins. Therefore the birth of twins
is believed to indicate a good salmon year. If the salmon should fail to
come in large numbers it is considered proof that the children will soon
die. Twins are forbidden to catch salmon, nor must they eat or handle
fresh salmon. They must not go sealing, as the seals would attack them.
They have the power to make good and bad weather. They produce
rain by painting their faces with black colour and then washing them,
or by merely shaking their heads.

I obtained a comparatively full account of customs practised at the
time when the girl reaches puberty (see Sproat, p. 94). “She is placed
on the platform of the house, opposite the door, and the whole tribe are
invited to take part in the ceremonies. A number of men and women
are engaged to sing and dance on this occasion, and are paid for their

Fie. 16.—Screen with painting representing Thunder-bird and Whale.

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services. While these songs, which are called 7’a’md, are sung, a man in
the attire of a thunder-bird stands on each side of the girl. The dresses
of these men consist each of a large mask, to which a complete dress, set
with feathers and having two wings, is attached. The dancers wear no
masks. Then eight men take each a dish, go down to the river, and
fetch water, with which they return to the house. In doing so the

must move in a circle, having their left hand on the inner side of the
circle. Then they pour the water on the girl’s feet and return to the
river, still moving in a circle, their left hand being on the inner side.
As soon as this performance is over, a screen, painted with images of
thunder-birds (fig. 16),! is set upon the platform in front of the girl, so
as to hide her completely. On both sides mats are hung up. and thus a
small room is provided for the girl, who has to stay here hidden from the
sight of men for a number of days. During this period she is always
attended by a number of girls and women. According to Sproat’s state-
mcnt, she is not allowed to see the sun or afire. According to my inform-
ant, she must be guarded against seeing anything ugly and against

1 A second screen with a symmetrical drawing adjoins the left side of the one
figured above.