RELIGION 47

over, he is aware that by certain means he may have good
expectations of beseeching, cajoling, deceiving, or rendering
powerless any supernatural beings whom he may meet. This
attitude is typical; the Bella Coola by no means move in
constant dread of the mysterious denizens of the forests, nor
do they eagerly hope for their appearance; they have their
likes and dislikes, their moments of weakness and of strength,
their times of greatness and of pettiness, all to be considered
with care and forethought.

One of the beings for whom the older people have a pro-
found respect is 7#itcéplifaén-a, a supernatural woman whose
home is in Nusm4t-a, but who frequently visits this earth. She
can be recognized by her snout-like mouth and long, pendant
breasts, but even when beyond the range of vision her prox-
imity can be detected by her singing. Tiitcaplitin-a often
takes pity on a person who is dangerously ill and visits him,
not only curing the malady but bringing the sufferer a name
and song. In many cases he is thus made a shaman with
power to cure. At other times Ttitcaplitan-a bestows her fa-
vours on a person in good health, so that wise Bella Coola are
always hoping to meet her. Such an experience is not without
its dangers, for she is so powerful that nearness to her may be
enough to cause death. The exploits of those who have come
in contact with THitcéplitin-a belong to shamanism and will
be reserved for vol. I, chap. 1x.

Tiitcéplitin-a, though her great power inspires fear, usually
behaves in a kindly manner to mortals, who accordingly wel-
come her. But it is quite otherwise with Sxaiaxwax, whose
coming almost invariably brings death." He is a black-faced
being of repulsive appearance and sensual nature, whose chief
function is to seduce women. For this purpose he often skulks
near a village at night, and assumes the voice and appearance
of a girl’s lover to lure her into the forest. Fearlessly she goes
with him, but if she allows his approaches, a hemorrhage results
and she soon dies. There is said to be no limit to the number

NCf. Boas, p. 42.