220 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

the burning of the masks, the dancing of X, and the return of
his call.

During a later season when a call comes to X, the ritual
deals with Winwintumak, but only the outline of the ceremony
could be learnt. The theme of the two songs composed for the
occasion is of Winwintumak and how he fights with his enemies,
the cold winds. His only weapons are fierce roaring and a
belligerent expression, but these suffice to keep his adversaries
at a distance, especially his principal foeman, the evil wind,
Nucicagos.

There is no deviation from the usual type of kusiut cere-
monial until the day of nebusam when a fight takes place at the
river's edge where all, including the uninitiated, can see it.
The kukusiut of the village are divided into two parties, of
which one comes from upstream, the other from below, meeting
in front of X’s house. The leaderless combatants shove each
other two and fro, without actually coming to blows. Win-
wintimak remains behind one party, encouraging his warriors
by his roars, while Nucwcdégos spurs on his supporters by val-
lant gestures, without daring to come too near the combat.
Winwintimak’s followers finally win the day and drive back
the other party. dno°likwoisaix is much in evidence, explain-
ing to the uninitiated, who cower in the shelter of the houses,
that this is the way in which the winds fight in the land above.
That evening non-members are called to X’s house where they
witness a combat of the same type. The ceremonial concludes
in the usual manner.

THE DANCE OF THE SUPERNATURAL LOVER

Another kusiut ceremonial which closely resembles that just
described is the prerogative of a young Bella Coola woman
named Qwu’ndk‘ who inherited it from her mother’s mother’s
sister's son. It will be convenient to refer to her as X.

When X wishes to dance, she first obtains the consent of
the marshals in the normal manner and chooses a convenient
day for the coming of her call. Then the kukusiut gather in