56 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

shals tells a herald to call them in; they enter joyfully, though
somewhat fearfully, and stand or crouch on either side of the
doorway. In Kimsquit they gaze on the masks, wondering
what they are. The singers strike up the first of X’s songs and
he dances, while singers and kukusiut men sing the words and
the women drone. To the uninitiated it appears most impres-
sive and desirable, while even the prosaic white man can
hardly remain indifferent. At intervals a whistle, which the
uninitiated believe to be the voice of the call, sounds eerily
from beneath the armpit of a reliable kusiut. After a short
interval, X’s second song is sung, and so in succession the eight.
Then the singers strike up any well-remembered tune, perhaps
one used last year, and the owner dances. This is repeated
for eight or ten songs. At later gotfium, every kusiut who has
had a call during the season must dance; the ceremony tends,
therefore, to become longer and longer as time goes on, although
the singing of the songs of a previous year isomitted. When
enough performers have danced, a shaman’s song is often sung
and the owner dances “‘to clear the house.’”’ At this point the
uninitiated spectators are told to withdraw. Then a meal is
served to the sisaok who, as members of a similar organization,
are honoured guests and have been seated together in a corner,
resplendent in their weasel-skin ornaments. After their
departure, the kukusiut eat more leisurely, while one marshal
after another advises them as to their conduct. Then presents
of comparatively small value are distributed. The marshals
would consider it unbecoming for X to provide over-lavishly.
The first gifts are to the singers, the next to the makers of the
masks. Though these presents are, in essence, pay, they are
never thought of in that light; X is under obligations, X has
cleared himself of those obligations, is the Bella Coola attitude.
When all is over, X once more dances to one of his softly sung
songs. Then one of the marshals calls out to open the door
and the guests disperse, except the novices who sleep in X’s
house.