606 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



slie raised her bauds aud danced in the same manner as tlie other women 

 do. Slie disappeared, and after some speeches a new song was sung 

 and she came out again with three assistants. 



Now the Walas'axa', the dance of the clan G'l'g-ilqam, commenced. 

 Nii'xnemis aud two messengers stood at the right-hand rear entrance 

 of the curtain. He gave a signal for the singers to beat time and to 

 sing, and out came a great many of the members of the Kwakiutl 

 tribe, wearing wolf headdresses. They were about fifty in all, and as 

 soon as they had stepped out from behind the curtain they turned 

 around and began a procession around the fire. In front of the fire 

 they turned again and continued their circuit. They held their fists 

 in front of their l)odies, the thumbs turned upward. While they were 

 walking, they cried " you, hou." After they had gone around the tire 

 they disappeared again behind the left entrance of the curtain. La'g-us 

 made a speech, and then they began a second circuit in the same 

 iiiaiiuer as before. When they had made their fourth circuit, they 

 stopped before entering the ])artitioii again. They kneeled around the 

 fire, resting on their fists and knees. Now Nu'xnemis began a song, 

 which was accompanied by rhythmical motions. They made another 

 circuit and disappeared behind the curtain (Plate 30). 



XI. Ceremonials of the other Tribes of Kwakiutl Lineage. 



The winter dance of the Koskimo begins in the month of November. 

 In the evening, before the ceremonies are to begin, a number of boys are 

 sent out to gather kelp. Thej^ return during the night and enter the 

 village at the south end, blowing on the tubes of kelp, and produ- 

 cing a noise like that of large horns. At the same time a drum is 

 placed in the river so that the wooden band is in the water while the 

 skin is held just above the surface. The beating of this drum pro- 

 duces a very loud sound. As soon a^s the young men have passed 

 through the village, they stop blowing their kelp horns and the drum 

 stops at the same time. Then all the people in the houses begin to 

 sing their secret songs, and continue to sing until the njorning, when 

 they come out of the houses. Then the chiefs go from house to house 

 and ask the people if they know what produced the noise of the pre- 

 ceding night. Some will reply that they did not hear it, others that 

 they heard it, and still others that tliey had seen one of their dead 

 relatives, who told them that he and the other ghosts came to take 

 the son or the daughter of one of the inhabitants away. The chiefs 

 continue to go from house to house until they come to that of the 

 young manor young woman who is to be initiated during the following 

 ceremonies. When they enter his room, they see that he has dis- 

 appeared. Only his shirt and blanket remain. These are covered 

 with blood. The chief seizes the garments, takes them out of the 

 house, and calls all the people together, asking for the murderer of the 

 youth. A great commotion ensues, all the people running about. At 



