WINTER CEREMONIAL DANCES 67

lieve the thud on the roof, which is made by an accomplice, is the call itself, or a being bringing it to X, is problematical. All non-members are expelled immediately, including guests other than Kimsquit or Té/-io kukusiut. One is tempted to conjecture whether or not the donor of the potlatch does not use this rite as a means of getting rid of his guests if they show a disposition to linger too long.

The call having come to X, this is the day of ésuxtémem. In the early evening a herald goes up and down the platform outside the houses, calling out in effect:

“He has been pressed to earth beneath the weight.”

No mention is made of who “he” may be, although the uninitiated are well aware. The herald then enters each house in order, starting at the bottom, to invite the kukusiut to assemble in X’s. After he has been aided by the beating of sticks, four times repeated, the singers seat themselves behind the fire, where X joins them. The fiction is always carried out that the call has brought him a song, which he pretends to sing or recite to the singers who appear to be listening intently. Usually he says nothing, or talks about something else, though sometimes the deception is furthered by X first learning the words from the musicians and repeating them as if teaching.

The theme is always of the supernatural patrons and how the offering attracts them. Since only kukusiut are present and since they all understand the methods, this part of the ceremony may be slighted.*° The singers beat out and sing the song a number of times, softly, as if practising, then more loudly for the benefit of the audience, and finally at full strength while X dances. Later in the season when many kukusiut have performed, and there is danger of the songs being forgotten, it is customary to sing them over on the night of éstxtdémem while the owner of each song dances. Throughout, the whistle sounds, to the awe of the uninitiated in the other

“Even when no uninitiated are present, the kukusiut always surround their ceremonials with an air of mystery’ which ultimately affects themselves.