40 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

tribe are superior to themselves in carpentry, and ascribe their skill to the fact that many of them are descendants of Yulé- timut. Some of the coastal tribes are said to believe that Aiqguntém erred in the manufacture of many of the sea mam- mals, giving them, for example, human heads on fish bodies; he later rectified this by sending his Carpenters to adjust their form. This is not a Bella Coola belief. One elderly man stated that the skill of the Carpenters in painting and modelling was derived from a little girl named Qox/tanao; no confirmation could be obtained for this statement and the information was vague and unreliable.

Since their creation of the sky and many features of this world, as well as birds and animals, the Carpenters have entered but little into the lives of the Bella Coola. Like other supernatural beings, they are capable of going anywhere, but for many generations they have not been seen on this earth. Their most important function, perhaps, is to act as patrons for various kusiut dancers. This subject will be described in detail in vol. II, chap. 1; for the moment it is enough to say that many supernatural beings regard members of this semi- sacred society as their protégés, and grant them power to per- form dances. On these occasions masked figures are used to represent the patrons, thus enlightening uninitiated persons as to the appearance and attributes of various supernatural beings.

Among the many residents of Nusmdét-a are two sons of Atquntim, Sanoiixivmutelts Alquntém and Sno olxidts Atquntam. The former in particular is dearly loved by his father and is often spoken of as Nustexwanixwittam, ‘““The Cherished One.” These two beings take no part in the affairs of mortals except as patrons of kusiut dancers. Like all supernatural beings they are considered to be immortal. Since 4fquntém has two sons it is to be assumed that he has, or had, a wife. Her name is not generally known, although she is sometimes spoken of as Nusm4t-aien-a, ““The Woman of Nusmdt-a.’ There are also many stories describing his amours with human women re- sulting in semi-supernatural offspring.