﻿248 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 78 



Makah has been, chiefly with the Clayoquot on the west coast of Van- 

 couver Island and with the Quileiite who are their nearest neighbors 

 on the Pacific coast. Songs of these tribes were recorded as well as 

 those of the Makah, the entire number of songs obtained being 146. 

 The classes of songs comprise those of war, treating the sick, dances, 

 legends, and songs for children. Eight Clayoquot songs for subduing 

 the waves were recorded, as well as songs for fair weather and a 

 plentiful supply of herring. Two aged people, one a Clayoquot and the 

 other a Makah, said they had never heard of anger on the part of 

 any " spirit," nor of any attempt to " propitiate the spirits." The words 

 of the songs addressed to the breakers were said to " make them 

 ashamed." These songs were sung during a storm, one containing the 

 words : 



Your teeth that are trying to get these people are long and homely. 



Another song contained the words, " Please be still, you have 

 treated us so badly." Another, sung in rough weather, had the words, 

 " What beautiful weather this is! It is as calm as when the dogfish 

 are moving in." The informant said, " Even when we were in the 

 highest breakers, if we sang these songs it seemed as though very 

 soon the water was smoother." 



Although the caste system was rigidly maintained among the Makah, 

 it is interesting to note that songs learned from slaves were recorded 

 and that a slave was allowed to sing a song of his own country at the 

 Klokali. A song received from a shell was recorded, as well as songs 

 concerning the crab, chipmunk, shark, and whale. 



The Klokali received special attention. This was an important 

 gathering in the old time and terminated with dances imitating the 

 actions of animals ; it was understood, however, that the dancers 

 represented the human beings who were the ancestors of the various 

 animals and did not represent the animals themselves. Songs with 

 representations of the wolf, deer, blackfish, and the wild white geese 

 were recorded. One of the most important dances was that repre- 

 senting the elk, a dance which had no songs, the pounding on sticks 

 and drum being the only accompaniment. 



A remarkable opportunity for seeing native pageantry and hearing 

 Indian songs occurred on Makah Day and at the rehearsals for that 

 event. The dancing on this annual occasion is intended chiefly to trans- 

 mit to the younger generation a knowledge of the old beliefs which are 

 dramatized and presented by trained performers. Each dance has its 

 costuine and other paraphernalia. Spears decorated with hemlock were 

 carried in the war dance, elk antlers by the elk dancers, and robes of 



