THE KWAKIUTL INDIANS. ()21 



XII. The eao'laxa. 



I pointed out at ;i ibnner place tbat the La'Lasiqoala group the dances 

 in two classes — tbe ts'e'ts'aeqa aud the nn'iiLEm. The no'iiLEm 

 dances are closely connected with the clans, and during- their perform- 

 ance the ordinary social system remains in full force. The Kwakiutl 

 have only a few of these dances which they call Lao'laxn, which name 

 is also sometimes used by the La'Lasiqoala. It is difficult to establish 

 any fundamental difference between a Lao'laxa dance and a ts'e'ts'aeqa 

 dance, as in both cases a hereditary genius initiates the novice, and 

 as in both ceremonials membership is obtained in the same manner — 

 through marriage, or by killing a person who is entitled to the cere- 

 monial. The distinction is comparatively clear among the La'Lasiqoala 

 and the affiliated tribes. Only those dances which derive their origin 

 from BaxbakualanuXsI'wae and his following, or from Wlna'lag-ilis, 

 are ts'e'ts'aeqa; all others are no'nLEm. To this class belong all the 

 -animals, and we find that they are much more clearly clan deities than 

 the former class. At the same time it is stated distinctly that the whole 

 ceremonial was introduced through intermarriage with the northern 

 tribes, particularly the Ile'iltsuq. This consciousness of an entirely 

 foreign origin of all the Lao'laxa dances is still stronger among the 

 Kwakiutl, while many danc-es which undoubtedly had the same origin 

 have been incorporated by them in the ts'e'ts'aCMja. 



The La'Lasi(|oala use in the no'nLEm ceremonial cormorant down 

 in place of eagle down, white cedar bark in place of red cedar bark, 

 red paint in place of black paint. They sing both profane songs 

 aud ts'e'ts'aeqa songs. The celebration takes place in November and 

 December. 



Among the Kwakiutl the Lao'laxa may be celebrated at any time of 

 the year. The man who desires to give the festival calls his clan or 

 tribe to his house and informs them of his plans. T am obliged to ]Mr. 

 George Hunt for the following descri[)tion of such a meeting: 



Ots'estalis, a man whose mother Avas a Ile'iltsuq, was about to give a 

 Lao'laxa. He invited his clan and SDoke as follows: 



''Now come, my tribe, come Ila'mts'it, come Ye'qawite, come G-e'so- 

 yag-ilis, come Lfi/qoag'ila, come Tso'palis; come to hear the words of our 

 chief. Gome Guc'tEla, come Q'd'moyue, Walas Kwakiutl, Q'o'mk-utis. 

 Thank you, my tribe, for coming. I must tell you about my plans. I 

 will show the dance Avliich came down from heaven, the Lao'laxa, the 

 coming niglit. Take care, my tribe, take care all of you, you second 

 class chiefs. I do not mean you, Ghief Ila'mts'it. I mean Ma'Xua 

 and Wa'nuk" and O'ts'estalis and Ma'mXua and L I'lak-uts'a and you 

 third class young chiefs. Xow take care, the supernatural power will 

 come to dwell among the tribes that are assembled at our camp, great 

 Kwakiutl! Xow 1 will tell you what I carry in my hands. I will give 

 away my copper Wa'numg-ila to the Xa'q'oaqtoq, Koskimo, G'o'p'enox, 



