THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS. 601 



in the secret meeting about as follows: "Kwakiutl, give my son long 

 life! Once I tried to make my son a lia'mats'a, but the deadly Bax- 

 bakualanuXsrwae struck liim and he died. When he died, I resolved 

 not to make another child ha'mats'a, but now since the mask broke you 

 all request me to initiate my younger son. T shall do so, but do give 

 him long life." At this poiut Si'wite, an old blind man, interrui)ted 

 him, saying: "Don't be overbearing and don't let him have more than 

 two songs," meaning that if he gave him four songs the boy should die. 

 Then all the people scolded and blamed him on account of his merciless 

 words. Kow it was arranged what dances were to be shown and who 

 was to pay for them. In the evening of this day, K-ex-'s wife disap- 

 peared all of a sudden. Her clothing was found on the beach, and it 

 Avas announced that she was to return as q'o'miuoqa on the following 

 day. lu the evening the Kwakiutl held their k-ik-i'lnala in order 

 to bring back their novices. I will give only a brief description of 

 their festival, as the details resemble that of the Koskimo. In the 

 beginning the societies came in one after the other — first the killer 

 whales, then the birds, etc. One man came in alone carrying a staff as 

 though he was shooting with it, and crying "hfi." The people sang 

 when he came in. Then they tore blankets and distributed the strips. 

 About 11 o'clock in the evening K-ex- appeared carrying several spread 

 tongs, while others followed him carrying staffs which they held 

 stretcbed forward. They wore plain head rings. The spread tongs were 

 given away. They designated gifts of canoes. At this time La'g-us 

 delivered a speech. Xow all had assembled except the members of the 

 seal society. They came in last and stepped to the rear of the house, 

 while Ho'LElite made a speech. 



Now began the dances. The fool dancers were heard outside, and 

 they entered wearing masks and enormous noses. One of them had 

 his face painted black and red. The people sang and tlie women 

 danced. xVfter this dance Ila/misilak" gave away a gun and blanket. 

 A man carrying a rattle was stationed in the doorway, and announced 

 with his rattle the arrival of every new dancer. After every dance, 

 blankets were distributed or other j^resents were made, but I shall not 

 describe this every time. The distribution of blankets occupied by far 

 the greater portion of the night. 



The next dancer was an old woman, bent by age, who came in. Her 

 face was painted red and black. 



After a speech, made l)y La'g-us, a bear dancer came in. His face 

 was all black. He wore an enormous head ring. Two men followed 

 him and carried the blankets which were given away after his dance. 

 As soon as these blankets were distributed, a young bear dancer 

 appeared from the corner of the house and scratched the ground while 

 the people were singing and women Avere dancing for him. Then he 

 disa])peared again. 



About midnight a new fool dancer entered, led by a blanket which 



