THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS, 599 



with four assistants, who, however, had no rattles. Two women danced 

 in his honor. During the second song' a great many women were 

 dancing for him. Two bloody lines were painted on each cheek, run- 

 ning in a wide circle downward from the corners of the mouth to the 

 eyebrows. He came in, in a great state of excitement, and attacked 

 his assistants, who were iu front of him. After three songs he was led 

 out of the house. This dance ended at 2 o'clock, and more blankets 

 were distributed. 



A new dance was announ(;ed, and a ha'mats'a entered, his face 

 painted all black. A hemlock braucli was fastened in front of his 

 head ring. The front of his blanket was adorned with small white 

 rings. (^E'ldetsEm pointed out the blanket and said that it was the 

 blanket of G'e'xdEn. He danced four times. At his third dance he 

 wore a blanket which showed the si'siuL around its border. In the 

 mnldle of the back was painted a squatting man whose palms were 

 represented by carved wooden skulls which were sewed onto the blan- 

 ket. The knees and the head were represented in the same way. One 

 carved skull was also sewed onto the blanket on each side, outside the 

 figures. He also wore a carved skull iu front and one in the back of his 

 cedar bark head ring. When he came in, five old ha/mats'as danced for 

 him, while three stood iu the door iu order to prevent people from going 

 out. Six songs were sung for him. During the first and second songs 

 one woman was dancing for him. After his dances he was led out of 

 the house. The speaker addressed the people, who beat time and said 

 "hu.'' 



Now the sound of whistles and the cries of a ha'mats'a were heard 

 outside. The same ha'mats'a reentered, and danced one circuit and a 

 half around the tire, while the women were dancing in his honor. His 

 k-i'nqalaLala danced in front of him. When they stopped in the rear 

 of the house, both squatted down, and their attendants stood around 

 them. After the fourth dance they disappeared behind the curtain. 

 Then more blankets were distributed. 



At 3.15 women were heard singing outside. A man entered singing, 

 followed by a woman. Two pairs of bloody lines were drawn on her 

 cheeks, running downward in a wide circle from the mouth to the ear. 

 She sang her secret song. She danced as t'd'X'uit, trying to catch her 

 supernatural power. As soon as she moved her hands upward, trying 

 to catch it, the women began to dance in her honor. Now she caught 

 it between her hands and threw it forward. At once a Hying sI'siuL 

 was seen in the rear of the house, moving rapidly to the right and to 

 the left and trembling all the time. As soon as the si'siuL disappeared 

 again, all the danciug women put their palms together as though tbey 

 had caught the supernatural power. Then blankets were distributed. 



At 4 o'clock a woman came from behind the curtain, singing. She 

 was followed by a ghost dancer, who had a large thick ring of cedar 

 bark with an enormous horn in front, set with feathers, whicli were 



