THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS. <J03 



from tlie rear of the house. The inau who carried him turned ouce iu 

 the rear of the house, and once in front. The boy was said to see some- 

 thing' supernatural coming, and was carried out of the house. 



After blankets were distributed the ha'mats'a reentered, the Ic-i'n- 

 qahxLahi dancing- before liim. 



Next a bear dancer entered, dressed in a complete bear skin, to which 

 a mask was attached. The women danced for him, holding their hands 

 close to the body, not raised, as is usually the case. After one circuit 

 the bear left the house again. 



About 3.30 a. m. two women entered, the first wearing a wide ring 

 of cedar bark. The following dancer was a ha'mshamtsEs, who danced 

 with short, quick steps without moving her body. She wore a head ring 

 set with ermine, and a button blanket ornamented with a thunder bird 

 and a killer whale. She had two heavy black lines running down her 

 face, and two horizontal ones crossing them. She left the house after 

 one circuit. 



The next dancer was a girl, who was ushered iu by her father. The 

 people were singing and the girl's mother stepped up to her, encour- 

 aging her to dance, but as she could not induce the child to do so, 

 she danced herself, wearing a red blanker. IS^ow Hii'masaqa made a 

 speech. 



About 5 oclock in the morning two ha'mshamtsEs entered. They 

 were followed by the ha'mats'a, accompanied by four assistants. 



The next dancer was hai'alik-ilaL. She cried "sh, hdip, hoip." 

 She wore a large ring of red cedar bark having four vertical horns, which 

 extended downward in long tassels of bark. She had a large round 

 neck ring. Her blanket was set with tassels made of red and white 

 bark. Attached to the back part of her rings was a tie looking like a 

 cross. The two messengers who stood at the door led her around the 

 fire once. Then she went out again. After a short time she reentered. 



At 0.15 a. m. a ha/mshamtsEs, wearing a round neck ring set with 

 four tassels, danced. The two messengers led her around the fire, then 

 she went out again. They returned and spoke to Ho'LElite. After 

 this the pe(Ji)le beat time and the dancers disappeared. 



Atr).3() a new dancer appeared, wearing hendock branches around 

 his head and neck. He danced with short, quick steps, and was led by 

 the two messengers to the rear of the house. He wore a blue blanket 

 and a dancing apron set with shells. He was the pa'xalalaL, He 

 danced in the rear of the house without moving from his place; his 

 whole body was shaking. Two songs were sung for him and the women 

 danced. After a speech made by Ho'LElite he left the house again. 



The next dancer was a Ts'd'noqoa, who entered dressed in a bearskin, 

 which was attached to her mask. She rubbed her eyes and shouted 

 "ou, on." Then the people sang, and she went out again. 



A new song which was heard at the door, was taken up by the 



