THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS. 



521 



unseen to the songs, as they must dance to tliern when they first appear 

 in the house. The people sit arranged in a square. At some distance 

 from each corner a fool dancer is placed, to watch that no uninitiated 

 I)erson comes near. If, nevertheless, one of these should see what is 

 going on he is captured by the fool dancer, taken into the square, and 

 he is initiated. 



After all have learned the new songs, they scatter and go home singly 

 in order not to attract the attention of the other people. Each family 

 takes supper alone, then they get ready for the dance. When it gets 

 dark, the ye'wix'ila sends four messengers to invite the people to the 

 dance. He gives each of these 

 a button blanket, a head ring 

 and a neck ring of red cedar 

 bark, and eagle down to strew 

 on their heads. They walk out 

 of the house to one end of the 

 village and go into the door of 

 the last house, in order to invite 

 the people. Each of them has 

 a set speech. The first says, 

 "Let us try shamans!" The 

 second, "We shall try in vain 

 to bring back what makes us 

 remember our friends!" The 

 third, "Bathe, G-'epLalai! 

 Bathe, Yaqoisai'!" calling the 

 names of dancers. The fourth, 

 "Else, friends!" also naming 

 the dancers.^ 



In inviting the people, they 

 begin with the women and men- 

 tion the name of everybody 

 living in the particular house, 

 continuing with the names of 

 the ha/mats'a and callin g finally 

 the names of the que'qutsa. After the messengers have gone through 

 the whole village, they return to the house of the ye'wix-ila saying: 

 "We have been outside to the end of the village."^ 



Fig. 178. 



FIKST HEAD RING OF HAI'ALIK' AUAE. 



Niinkish. 



Tlie two lateral crosspieces represent the heads of the 



si'siuL, and the front crosspiece the death bringer. 



Cat. No. 175511, U. S. N. M. Collected by F. Boas. 



' The first raau says : La mEns lieinas'aleLai' pepaxalai'. 



Wo will try shamans. 



The second says: La niEns ^YUL'aleLai' ueiiEmokoai' k-ik-i Inala . xEus 

 We will try for nothing friends to bring back our 



q'alaLElaai'. 

 what makes us rememlier. 



The third says: La ams xosct'eLai' fxyepLalai. Laains xoset'eLai' Yaqoisai'. 



Keady you bathe (woman's name). Ready bathe (Ha'mats'aname). 



The fourth says : Laams Lax'ofiLai' qastai' NaXdauai'. 

 Ready you rise friend One man eater. 



'^ LamEuoX la'pElsa. 



