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350 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

in their ceremonies. Again the Bella Coola were unwilling, but again their unformulated and uncertain wishes were overruled by the dominant chief, and the assault was made. The frames were stored in an unguarded shelter near the cemetery, into which the raiders broke, smashed them, and threw the debris into the water. While this was taking place, a Waoyel-¢ canoe rounded a point, and Lo-gwa:t took the opportunity to jump aboard, saying that he was escaping from a Bella Coola raiding-party. The canoe paddled away and the expedition was left leaderless. The usual discussion took place about what was to be done, but finally the raiders returned home. They had been diverted from their original objective, had been led to attack a friendly tribe, had been deserted by their leader, and the only spoils of the long-prepared expedition were a few slaves.

Among the prisoners were two daughters of a certain Ofowa, who was hated because he had frequently been in partnership with Tevdusa. A few days after the return of the expedition, the father appeared to ransom his children. Some of the Bella Coola wanted to kill him, others demurred, and it was finally decided that a spear, fastened to a line, should be hurled against his canoe so that it would project outwards and lodge against an olachen stake, capsizing the craft and drowning the occupant. The spear was thrown, but clever handling prevented the intended disaster. Ofowa was a validated warrior, one who never showed fear, so he calmly pulled out the missile and again paddled upstream. This time the Bella Coola fired shots close to either side of his head, but he sat unmoved and un- armed amid his boxes of presents. Finally, a Bella Coola tried to wrench off a tuft of hair from above one ear, but though he pulled with all his force, he did not succeed, and everyone on shore laughed at him. This restored good humour, and Ofowa was allowed to land and ransom his daughters. When he left for home he was told to send his friends if they wished the return of their relatives. This was done and peace followed; if Ofowa had waited a few days until the excitement of victory had cooled, he would have been able to land without molestation. The only other result of the expedition was that the China Hat kukusiut killed their own Cannibals for having allowed their frameworks to be exposed.

After this fiasco, the Kitkatla became even bolder and many years elapsed before another expedition was sent against them. This time, there was no Bella Bella chief to interfere with the arrangements and after the plans had been discussed for a winter, a flotilla from Bella Coola, Kimsquit and Té/-io took the water one day in May.

Nothing of importance took place until, near Kitkatla, a canoe was captured containing a man and his wife. The former’s face was marked with a vertical scar, and it was remembered that, four years earlier, when Tcibisa had been attacking Kimsquit, one of the defenders had shot an