222 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

but a proud and energetic dancer sometimes repeats a cere-
mony three or four times. —

THE SUN DANCE”

One of the forms in which A/guntém appears is that of the
Sun, and in that case he is referred to as Sinxalotta. Consider-
ing the importance of this deity, it is rather surprising that the
kusiut dance of which he is patron is not more impressive.
Efforts were made to obtain full details of the ceremonial from
several informants, but only a number of incidents and a bare
outline could be obtained. In part this was due to the fact
that none of the informants were themselves protégés of
Alguntam, but this is not in itself sufficient to explain the com-
parative unimportance of the dance, since full accounts were
obtained of other rituals from those who did not own them.

Nothing was learnt of the origin of any of the Sun dance
prerogatives, except that ancestors of the owners obtained them
from Afguntam. It is a common right, and kukusiut having
Atquntém as patron are found in every village, among them
being Qoxoldn-i of Tcumot?, and Nexnextiwalatx of Nusgalst. As
far as could be ascertained, the ritual of various Sun dance
performances is identical, so one account will suffice and the
dancer can be termed X.

Like other Ausiut dancers, X can perform at any time during
the ceremonial season, subject to the approval of the marshals.
The call comes to him in the normal manner, the uninitiated
are expelled, and the kukusiut gather in his house to practise
the songs which the singers have just composed. The theme
is of Afguntam, describing his manifold functions, and particu-
larly that of guiding the Sun. The following day a second
song with similar theme is composed, and in the evening the.
tasks are allotted for the manufacture of masks. Four are re-

quired; a large one representing Afquntam himself, one of

°4Needless to say, no connection or similarity is implied with the dance of the
same name in other areas.

%Except one man who had forgotten all details since his conversion to Chris-
tianity many years before.