122 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

On the following evening, zebusam, when the uninitiated
have been called in, they see 4/guntdm standing in the centre
of the space behind the fire, wearing a large mask and a blanket
decorated with tufts of dyed cedar-bark. Ano°likwoisaix
moves to and fro as she gives her customary explanations,
which are echoed by the heralds. The masked representation
of Sno’ olxuts Atguntém rushes back and forth behind the fire,
waving his arms to and fro as if he had an uncontrollable im-
pulse to scratch someone. The four masked Holders move
with him, as if to restrain him from dashing among the unini-
tiated.

“See!” says Ano likwoisaix. “That is what they do in the
land above.”

After gazing upon these wonders for some time, the unini-
tiated are expelled and the kwkusiut perform a dramatic act.
As many as possible crowd around Sxo’olxuts diquntam, press-
ing with their hands against the back of his neck, the seat of
the spirit, calling Aoip, in an effort to soothe him. This is
done four times, without avail; he remains as wild as ever.
Then one of the marshals removes the mask, and the same
methods are used to try to soothe the wearer. But still they
are of no avail. The mask is replaced, and Sno’ olxuts Atgun-
tam rushes forth, with the four Holders in close attendance,
and followed by a large number of kukusiut. Starting at the
lowest house, he enters each in turn, dashing around the fire
and startling the uninitiated in the same manner that X had
done, but not actually scratching anyone. Non-members
cower in terror at this invasion of their houses by a super-
natural being. On the return to X’s home, Svxo’olxuts At
guntém is pacified by the frenzied beating of sticks. The masks
are burnt in due course, after which the kukusiut assemble on
the sidewalk outside X’s house to sing one of his songs and
thus further the return of his call to the land above. Some-
times X himself wears the mask of Sxo’olxuts Aiquntém, more
often it is entrusted to another kusiut, but the wearer must