66 THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY, 



receive some land as a present. At that time the tide did not ebb and flow, so Tu- 

 chee promised he would make the waters retire for twenty days, and during that time 

 Klook-shood might pick up what he could find on the flats to eat. Klook-shood was 

 not satisfied with this, but wanted the land to be made bare as far as the cape. 

 Tu-chee said no, he would only make it dry for a few feet. Klook-shood told 

 him he was a very mean fellow, and that he had better take his daughter back again. 

 At last the matter was settled by Tu-chee* agreeing to make the water leave the 

 flats twice every twenty-four hours. This was deemed satisfactory, and thus it was 

 that the ebb and flow of the tide was caused, to enable the ravens and crows to go 

 on the flats and pick up the food left by the water. 



The Uukwally and other tamanawas performances are exhibitions intended to 

 represent incidents connected with their mythological legends. There are a great 

 variety, and they seem to take the place, in a measure, of theatrical performances or 

 games during the season of the religious festivals. There are no persons especially 

 set apart as priests for the performance of these ceremonies, although some, who 

 seem more expert than others, are usually hired to give life to the scenes, but these 

 performers are quite as often found among the slaves or common people as among 

 the chiefs, and excepting during the continuance of the festivities are not looked on 

 as of any particular importance. On inquiring the origin of these ceremonies, 

 I was informed that they did not originate with the Indians, but were revelations 

 of the guardian spirits, who made known what they wished to be performed. An 

 Indian, for instance, who has been consulting with his guardian spirit, which is done 

 by going through the washing and fasting process before described, will imagine 

 or think he is called upon to represent the owl ; he arranges in his mind the style 

 of dress, the number of performers, the songs and dances or other movements, and 

 having the plan perfected, announces at a tamanawas meeting that he has had a 

 revelation which he will impart to a select few. These are then taught and drilled 

 in strict secrecy, and when they have perfected themselves, will suddenly make 

 their appearance and perform before the astonished tribe. Another Indian gets up 

 the representation of the whale, othera do the same of birds, and in fact of every 

 thing that they can think of. If any performance is a success, it is repeated, and 

 gradually comes to be looked upon as one of the regular order in the ceremonies ; if* 

 it does not satisfy the audience, it is laid aside. Thus they have performances that 

 have been handed down from remote ages, while others are of a more recent date. 

 My residence in the school building, but a stone s throw from the houses at Neeah 

 village, gave me an excellent opportunity to see all the performances that the un 

 initiated are permitted to witness, and to hear all the din of their out-door and 

 in-door operations. 



The ceremony of the great Dukwally, or the Thunder bird, originated with the 

 Hesh-kwi-et Indians, a band of Nittinats living near Barclay Sound, Vancouver 

 Island, and is ascribed to the following legend : 



Two men had fallen in love with one woman, and as she would give neither the 

 preference, at last they came to a quarrel. But one of them, who had better sense 

 than the other, said, Don t let us fight about that squaw ; I will go out and see the 

 chief of the wolves, and he will tell me what is to be done ; but I cannot get to his 



