THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS. 537 



after his return from the bush — is celebrated. The k-i'nqalaLala leaves 

 the house, followed by the ha/mats'a, each singiug his own song. They 

 go into four houses and are fed by the people. The hn'mats'a must 

 eat all th.at is given to him. Then they walk into the next house, where 

 they are fed again. 



Now the whole tribe assembles again in the house of the ye'wix-ila. 

 A canoe mast is put up in the middle of the house, and the master of 

 ceremonies asks, "Who will take the red cedar bark off from the people 

 and keep it until next winter?" Whoever intends to give a winter 

 dance the following winter must step up and take hold of the stick. 

 Then all the people take their rings off and throw them into the fire. 

 Four only are kept until the next year. The people tie handkerchiefs 

 around their heads in place of the cedar bark. 



Then " the sound of the batons is driven out of the house." The 

 l^eople beat time four times and then throw all the sticks into the fire. 

 This is the end of the winter dance. 



After biting persons, and particularly after eating slaves or bodies, 

 the ha'mats'a must observe a great many rules. Immediately after they 

 have eaten of a corpse, the he'lig-a brings them salt water, of which 

 they drink great quantities in order to produce vomiting. If they do 

 not vomit as many pieces as they have swallowed, their excrements are 

 examined in order to ascertain if all the pieces of human flesh have 

 passed the body. The bones of the body that they have eaten are kept 

 for four months. They are kept alternately four days in their bedrooms 

 on the north side of the house where the sun does not strike them, and 

 four days under rocks in the sea. Finally they are thrown into the sea. 



The ha/mats'as are not allowed to go out of the house do(n^, but they 

 must use the secret door in the rear of the house only. When one of 

 them goes out to defecate, all the others must go with him, each carry- 

 ing a small stick. They must all sit down together on a long log. 

 They must rise again three times, and do not sit down until the fourth 

 time. Before sitting down they must turn four times. Before they 

 rise they must turn four times. Then they go back to the house. 

 Before entering they must raise their feet four times. With the fourth 

 step they really pass the door. They go in, the right foot first. In the 

 doorway they turn four times and walk slowly into the house. They 

 are not allowed to look back. 



For four months after eating human flesh the ha'mats'a uses a spoon, 

 dish, and kettle of his own, which are thrown away after the lapse of 

 the prescribed time. 



He must wear soiled cedar bark. He must stay alone in his bedroom. 

 A grizzly bear dancer is placed in the doorway to see that no one 

 enters. 



Before taking water out of a bucket or before dipping it out of a 

 brook he nmst dip his cup three times into the water. He must not 

 take more than four mouthfuls at one time. 



