THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS. 



427 



hfi'mats'a cereinouial was obtained in this uianuer by killing a great 

 number of Ilr-'iltsuci. The war in which this happened is one of the 

 most famous oues in the history of these tribes. I give here a version 

 obtained by Mr. Hunt. 



The Bi'lxula made war upon the Qoe/xsot'enox. It was autumn. 

 They landed above the village Qoa'yastEm and hauled their canoes 

 ashore. Late in the evening they sent spies out to examine the village. 

 About midnight, when all the Qoe/xsot'enox were asleep, the Bi'lxula 

 huinched their canoes and divided. One-half went to the east end of the 

 village, and one-half to the west end. They stayed in their canoes not 

 far from the beach until it was almost daylight. It was foggy. As 

 soon as it grew daylight they landed and many men went to the rear 

 of the houses. As soon as they were ready the most courageous war- 

 riors broke into the doors of the houses and speared men, women, and 

 children Whoever tried to escape through the rear door was speared 

 by the men stationed there. Others of the Bi'lxula looked after the 

 valuable property and put it into their canoes. Now the Qoe'xsot'enox 

 were all killed. Only seven men and five women were left. Then the 

 Bi'lxula set fire to the houses. Their canoes were deeply loaded with 

 men's heads. They went home. At that time people of different tribes 

 had stayed at Qoa'yastEm; Ma'maleleqala, Lau'itsis, Nimkish, and 

 Na'cioaqtoq, all guests of the Qoe'xsot'enox. They were all slam by 

 the Bi'lxula and also some who belonged to the Kwakiutl. Then 

 four men came and told what had happened to KEqa'p'Euk-Em, chief ot 

 the Kwakiutl, who was Qoe'xsot'enox by his father's side. Then he 

 called the Kwakiutl and asked them to go to war against the Bi'lxula. 

 Then four men were sent to ask the Ma'maleleqala, ^^imkish, and Lau'- 

 itsis to go to war also. And they also asked the La'Lasiqoala and the 

 Na/qoaqtoq. Four very strong men were selected, and after six days 

 they came back again. When they came back to Tsaxis, NEqa'p'- 

 Euk-Ein invited them and when they were seated in his house, he called 

 all the Kwakiutl to hear the reports of the messengers. When the 

 people had come, he asked them to be silent and to listen to the words 

 of the messengers. One of them said: " In four days they will all be 

 ready to come, men and women. All decided to go to war against the 

 Bi'lxula." Then Ya'xLEii said: " Now go, Kwakiutl! Prepare to go, 

 that we may not stay another night when they come. And let our 

 wives wash for four days that we may have good luck. Alter they had 

 eaten, the men who were going to war took seaweed and blew into it 

 until it nearly burst. Then they made neck rings out of it. When they 

 had done so, NEqa'p'Enk-Em invited all the men and women to his house. 

 He told them what to do, for he knew all the customs of ancient times. 

 He snoke: "Thank you, Kwakiutl, thank you and your beloved wives. 

 Now kwakiutl, we will soar up and catch in our talons the Bi'lxula. We 

 will be the great thunderbird. We will revenge our fathers, our 

 mothers, our uncles, our aunts, our sisters, and our younger brothers, 



