26 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

is allotted to different Aukusiut, usually in accordance with the
dancer’s wishes, although a marshal normally gives out the
actual tasks. The dancer, or one of his relatives, bestows pre-
sents on each person to whom work is allotted. The evening
of nusiutalsap is called émitamkum.

The third day is gotfum. Those to whom mask making has
been entrusted assemble early in the dancer’s house to start
their work. About noon they are provided with a meal, to
which other kukusiut may be invited. By late afternoon, when
most of the work has been accomplished, the chips are carefully
swept up and burnt, and the house tidied, ready for the unini-
tiated who will be invited during the evening. On either this
day or the one preceding, a platform, with raised sides, is built
behind the fire on which the dancer can conceal himself and
where he is supposed to remain during the remainder of the
four days. About dusk the kukusiut are called in; the singers
take their places behind the fire, Cannibals, Breakers, and
Scratchers are in one of the back corners, where a matting
enclosure may have been constructed for them, and the re-
mainder group themselves without distinction around the
walls. In Kimsquit, though not in Bella Coola, one or more
of the masks may be displayed, suspended from a sloping pole
behind the fire. If the singers think it necessary, they may
practise the dancer’s two songs once more. Then the unini-
tiated are called in, taking their places near the doorway. The
singers beat out one of the dancer’s songs and he dances in
time to it, and the same is repeated for his second song. After
some delay, which appears to be one of the requisites of every
kusiut performance, the singers strike up the songs of either
a novice or a kusiut, especially one who has already had a
call during the ceremonial season, and the one thus summoned
dances to his two songs. Late in the season, when many kuku-
siut have performed, only one song may be used, to prevent
the ceremony dragging out to an interminable length, and
songs of previous years are omitted. In any case, the ritual
lasts for most of the night. When all have danced, the