THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS. 



523 



throw the wreaths into the fire. This means that they are going to rival 

 the other tribes iu the amount of property that they will give away. 



The wives of the Koskimo, the qau'qotsaxsEm ( ? ), are the next to enter. 

 Each of them carries a number of sticks, which represent the amount 

 of property which they are going to give to their husbands. Each 

 says what amount of i)ro])erty these sticks represent. They are fol- 

 lowed by the qa'qao and k'e/k*exalaqa, the wives of the maa'mx'enox. 

 Tliey also carry sticks and state how much property they are going to 

 give away. 



Last of all the mEse/q, or Sea-egg, enters. Sharp sticks about 3 feet 

 long are fastened to his clothing. Two men accom[)any him. When 

 he comes to the rear of the house, all the sticks are i^ulled out from his 

 clothing, and at the same time the 

 names of all the coppers which were 

 given away during the past year 

 are called. Everyone who has given 

 away blankets has one stick con 

 tributed to the ornaments of this 

 peculiar dancer. The sticks are then 

 thrown into the fire, while all sing 

 out, "ye!" 



The maa'mx'enox and d'o'd'opa 

 then arrange themselves behind the 

 fire, facing the rear of the house. 

 The singing master stands behind 

 them, facing the door and looking at 

 the singers. The Koskimo and he'- 

 melk siton each side of the house, the 

 women in the rear row. (See p. 43G.) 



Finally the seal society enter in 

 the same manner as described above 

 p. 50G). 



While they are going to their seats 

 the singers slip out singly through 

 the secret door. Then suddenly they all reenter the house with great 

 noise, and the people say: "The great maa'mx'enox have become 

 excited." 1 They go around the fir-e slowly, holding their blankets 

 spread out. Sometimes they are led by one of the me'emqoat. Then 

 tliey pretend to pursue the latter.- If the member of the seal society 

 sliould hapi)en to be a fool dancer, they endeavor to hit his nose, and 

 as soon as they succeed in doing so he gets excited and stabs the 

 people. During all this time the singing master remains in his place. 



Fiji. 180. 



NECK RING CF HAl'ALIK AUaF;. 



Nimkish. 



The three crosspieces rejjresent tlie central and 



terminal heads of the si'siuL. 



Cat. No. U55U, V. S. N. M. Collected by F. Boas. 



' Kue'qoL la g-a maa'mx'enuxtse' ! 



Wild these, the great niaa'iux'euox. 

 -They act according to their names. The maa'mx'enox are killer whales, while 

 the mC'cmiioat are seals, wlio are the prey of the former. 



