THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS. 615 



three times, really dipping up tlie water the fourth time. The novice 

 sits right uext to the bucket iu which the water is kept. He has no 

 rings of red cedar bark. Then he is washed. 



Then NE'msqEmg-ala places the tongs vertically into the tire, the 

 open end downward. The cedar bark with which they are wound 

 catches fire, and then he lets them go. It is expected that the wind 

 will blow in whichever direction they fall. Then the officer who made 

 the tongs makes head rings of red cedar bark for all the people, who 

 put them on. The singing master makes a new song, and singing it 

 they go around the fire, and leave the house, led by the yiai'atahiL, who 

 carries a small rattle. This office is also hereditary. They go through 

 the whole village, and inform the ])eople that the purification of the 

 novice has been performed that morning. The people put their masks 

 in order, and gather the property which they are going to give away at 

 the festival which is to be held that evening. This.uight the people 

 are not arranged according to the groups described above, but accord" 

 ing to their clans. In the morning a man is sent around to call the 

 people. He says, "Let us go into the house and beat the boards, for 

 we have purified him. Let us go at once.'' ' 



First the boys enter the house and begin to beat time. Then the 

 various groups enter one after the other, each carrying the property 

 which they are going to give away during the festival. Whenever a 

 group enters, the boys beat time. They imitate the movements of the 

 auinjals which they represent. Then each group gives presents to 

 the others, and at this time the ha'mats'a, ma/maq'a, and the other 

 q'a/q'anas, pay for the damage they have done. Next, three men 

 are called up, — ME'lxmEk", aKaqo'mg-ilisala; Ts'e'Ic, a G-e'xsEm; and 

 Tsau'xstalag-ilis, a G-I'g-ilqam, — who each sing a song, accompanied by 

 the people. ME'lxmEk"'s song is as follows:^ 



I will listen to the old tale to which this refers. 

 I will listeu to what is told about it. 



After they have finished their songs, a man named Wlyo'tsEm is 

 called up. He puts on a canoe sail like a blanket, and goes around 

 the fire dragging the sail behind him. This means tliat he is sweep- 

 ing the house for the dancers, who will enter next. The first dancer to 

 enter is the wa'tanEm. He is followed by the ghost dancer, the o'lala, 

 hai'alik-aue, ts'e'kois, wi'x'sa ha/mats'a (==hamtsEtsr»e), and ha'mats'a. 



While the ha'mats'a is biting the people, the ma/maq"a enters and 

 drives the ha'mats'a away. Then the new dancer comes out of his 

 secret room. If he has a mask, he returns to his secret room and dances 

 again. Four women dance with him, two in each corner in the rear of 



'La luKus lag-aaLtsaLai', gins kuexaleLg'ai', xg'ins kuesasoxtEg-ai'. Halag-i- 



We will go iu, we will beat boards, for we Lave washed Liiii. Wo will 



liLEnsai'! uTi/xua Laa'uiLEnsai' ! 

 go at once all wo will go ! 



" Appendix, page 729. 



