10 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

able for axes, which occurs in the valley of a small stream on
the slope of the mountain.

*(23) Nuiteax, “The Place Where There Are No Falls’’: an
affluent from the north enters the main Bella Coola about
thirty-one miles from the sea and the town was located on this
creek about two hundred yards above its junction with the
Bella Coola. The ruins of this moderately large town were still
standing about 1870. Mackenzie reached the Bella Coola River
at this place. At the time of his arrival the population was
larger than usual, because the salmon-weir had withstood
some heavy freshets which had destroyed several weirs on
the Bella Coola, and driven the inhabitants of other villages
to Nuifeax.

It is said that the affuent at Nuifeax, the stream Xazidts,
is the only one in the whole Bella Coola valley that does not
drop precipitously into a ravine leading to the main river. Its
source is a spring at the end of a pocket-like valley, at the base
of steep cliffs, but it does not fall down these. The town is
named from this circumstance. The area around the spring
is called Nusndxinxkt, and it is said that some families living
on the Skeena sing of it as the spot where their first ancestors
came to earth, although their descendants do not know where
it is located.

*(24) Stuux: on the point between the La’xuvx (Atnarko)
and S/a-k? (Whitewater) rivers which join to form the Bella
Coola. This, the most populous of the upper river towns, was
deserted not long ago. The meaning of the name is unknown.

(25) Qwiiutt, “The Place of Herbage”: on the north side
of the Atnarko River, a few hundred yards above the forks.
This small town was deserted many years ago. The name was
given on account of the hill behind the village being covered
with a rank growth of plants and small bushes, but no trees.

(26) Snuite-ti, “The Place of Falls,’ so called from the
strong rapids of the Atnarko at this point: on the north side
of the river about ten miles from the forks. This large town
was long ago deserted when a large rock in the midst of the