THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS. 563 



policemen around asking if everybody was present, and KuLE'm asked, 

 "Are all here ? " The people replied, " Yes." Then the two other police- 

 men went around, looked at everybody, and stated that one person was 

 missing. They went out, and soon returned leading the old woman 

 Gudo'yo, whose hands were fastened with handcuffs. Then they pre- 

 tended to hold court over her on account of her absence. Tl»e Judge 

 ])retended to read the law on the case, and fined her $70. She replied 

 that she was poor; that she was able to pay in blankets, but had no 

 ready money. KuLE'm, who acted the interpreter, pretended to trans- 

 late what she said into English, and the payment of 70 blankets was 

 accepted. Then the friends of Gudd'yd turned against the judge and 

 said: "That is always your way, policemen. As soon as you see any- 

 one who has money, you arrest him and fine him." She was unchained, 

 and the policemen went back to the door.^ 



They called K-ex* and his friends, the killer whales, and told them 

 to fetch the 70 blankets. The cousin of the old woman, who was the 

 speaker of the Maa'mtag-ila, told them where to go, and soon they 

 returned. Gudo'yo's sister, Le'mElxa'lag-ilis, followed them, dancing. 

 All the people were singing a ha'mshamtsEs song for her. The blan- 

 kets were distributed in her name. The ma'maq'a of the l^a'q'oaqtoq 

 received his share first; then the other members of his tribe, and after- 

 wards the Koskimo, beginning with the ha'mats'a. While this was 

 going on, button blankets and bracelets tied to sticks were being carried 

 into the house. A G-e'xsEm, whose daughter had married Le'Lelalak", 

 a G'i'g'ilqam of the Kue'xa, was going to repay the purchase money of 

 his daughter. This ceremony is called "the brief (jaute'x'a." The 

 speaker of the (x'o'xsEm, QE'lqex-ala, arose and shouted: "Get ready, 

 Le/Leliilak","^ and called all the chiefs of the clan G-i'g'ilqam. Le'Le- 

 liilak" was sitting at the left hand side of the door. He arose and said: 

 "Did I hear you call my name?" " Yes," replied the speaker, "your 

 father in-law is going to repay you." "I wish it were true what you 

 said," ' remarked Le'Lelalak". 



Then the si)eaker counted 39 button blankets and gave them to him, 

 saying that the fortieth was not quite finished yet; and he added: 

 "Here are 120 blankets; if your button blankets should not be enough 

 for all the guests, you may use these." After he had spoken, K-a/qoLe, 

 a speaker of the G-i'g-ilqam, arose, holding the speaker's stafl' in his 

 hands, and said : "I will go and take the blankets." With quick steps 

 he ran around the fire, turning in the rear and in the front of the house. 

 That meant that he was treading on all the tribes, because the Kwakiutl 

 rank highest of all. Then he struck the pile of blankets with his 



' This performance was first iiitiodiiced iu 1865, and has been kept up since that 

 time. 



2We'g*a Sofi'liLx Lo'Leliilak". 



Go on, stand in the house, Lf-'LelSlak". 



'We'xEnL a'lanes i.aa ue'kvi. 



I wish it was true what he said. 



