52 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

while X dances to and fro behind the fire. In succession the
six songs previously composed are resung and X dances to
each. The singers would be disgraced should they forget
either a tune or a text, so they take advantage of /suxtdmem to
practise them all. Later in the season, when numerous kuku-
siut have received calls, the singers beat out the time and
words for each and the owner dances. The general effect 1s
remarkably impressive in the dim light of one of the large
wooden houses, nor is the music displeasing to the ear. After
the singing of X’s seventh song, there is a pause while food is
distributed amid the admonitions of the marshals. Once more
the singers take up their sticks and beat out the song most
recently composed for X; the audience joins in softly and he
dances. The Aukusiut now disperse with the exception of the
novices who sleep in X’s house. He himself does not withdraw
to his platform. The ritual of X’s ésuxtémem differs from that
of most kukusiut since his comrades have already learnt six
songs for him. On most occasions they hear and practise one
only, to which he dances in the manner described.

The next day is musiutdlsap. About eleven o’clock in the
morning the heralds go to every house calling out:

Tipanap, tpanap, kukusiaot, “Cut, cut, ye kukusiut.”

The uninitiated do not realize that this is an invitation to
gather to cut wood for masks. X, or his relatives, always pro-
vides a meal which is eaten before the main work is attended
to. Then the singers group themselves and compose still
another song”? for X, with the same theme, but different words,
as the one composed the previous evening. When ready, they
chant it loudly so that all can hear and learn, and then sing it
with the audience joining in, while X dances. After a short
pause, X asks as many of his comrades as he desires to go with
him to the forest to cut wood. Some member of the party

2This would normally be a dancer’s second song, the large number practised
for X before the coming of his call being unusual. Not many years ago a powerful
chief created the innovation of having one song only instead of two. Some kukusiut
follow his example whereas others still use two.