THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 67 



lodge except by stratagem. Now they know we are at variance, so do you take me 

 by the hair, and drag me over these sharp rocks which are covered with barnacles, 

 and I shall bleed, and I will pretend to be dead, and the wolves will come and 

 carry me away to their house. The other agreed, and dragged him over the rocks 

 till he was lacerated from head to foot, and then left him out of reach of the tide. 

 The wolves came, and supposing him dead, carried him to the lodge of their chief; 

 but when they got ready to eat him, he jumped up and astonished them at his 

 boldness. The chief wolf was so much pleased with his bravery, that he imparted 

 to him all the mysteries of the Thunder bird performance, and on his return home 

 he instructed his friends, and the Dukwally was the result. The laceration of the 

 arms and legs among the Makahs, during the performance to be described, is to 

 represent the laceration of the founder of the ceremony from being dragged over the 

 sharp stones. 



A person intending to give- one of these performances first gathers together as 

 much property as he can obtain, in blankets, guns, brass kettles, beads, tin pans, 

 and other articles intended as presents for his guests, and procures a sufficient 

 quantity of food, which of late years consists of flour, biscuit, rice, potatoes, 

 molasses, dried fish, and roots. He keeps his intention a secret until he is nearly 

 ready, and then imparts it to a few of his friends, who if need be assist him by 

 adding to his stock of presents or food. The first intimation the village has of 

 the intended ceremonies is on the night previous to the first day s performance. 

 After the community have retired for the night, which is usually between nine 

 and ten o clock, the performers commence by hooting like owls, howling like 

 wolves, and uttering a sharp whistling sound intended to represent the blowing 

 and whistling of the wind. Guns are then fired, and all the initiated collect 

 in the lodge where the ceremonies are to be performed, and drum with their 

 heels on boxes or boards, producing a sound resembling thunder. The torches 

 of pitch wood are flashed through the roof of the house, and at each flash the 

 thunder rolls, and then the whole assemblage whistles like the wind. As soon as 

 the noise of the performers commences, the uninitiated fly in terror and hide them 

 selves, so great being their superstitious belief in the supernatural powers of the 

 Dukwally, that they have frequently fled to my house for protection, knowing very 

 well that the tamanawas performers would not come near a white man. They then 

 visit every house in the village, and extend an invitation for all to attend the cere 

 monies. This having been done, the crowd retire to the lodge of ceremonies, 

 where the drumming and singing are kept up till near daylight, when they are 

 quiet for a short time, and at sunrise begin again. The first five days are usually 

 devoted to secret ceremonies, such as initiating candidates, and a variety of per 

 formances which consist chiefly in songs and chorus and drumming to imitate 

 thunder. They do this part very well, and their imitation of thunder is quite 

 equal to that produced in the best equipped theatre. 



What the ceremony of initiation is I have never learned. That of the Clallams, 

 whiqh I have witnessed, consists in putting the initiates into a mesmeric sleep ; but 

 if the Makahs use mesmerism, or any such influence, they do not keep the 

 candidates under it for any great length of time, as I saw them every day 



