THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 71 



needles in one end ; they made a buzzing noise, and stuck the needles into any 

 of the spectators who came in their way. This was a representation of hornets. 

 These processions followed each other at an interval of half an hour, and each 

 made a circuit round the lodge, performed some antics, sang some songs, shouted, 

 and left. Another party then came in, composed of men with frightful masks, 

 bear-skins on their backs, and heads covered with down. They had clubs in 

 their hands, and as they danced around a big fire blazing in the centre of the 

 lodge, they struck wildly with them, caring little whom or what they hit. One 

 of their number was naked, with a rope round his waist, a knife in each hand, 

 and making a fearful howling. Two others had hold of the end of the rope as if 

 to keep him from doing any harm. This was the most ferocious exhibition I had 

 seen, and the spectators got out of their reach as far as they could. They did no 

 harm, however, excepting that one with his club knocked a hole through a brass 

 kettle ; after which they left and went to the other lodges, when I learned 

 that they smashed boxes and did much mischief. After they had gone the owner 

 examined his kettle, and quaintly remarked that it was worth more to him than 

 the pleasure he had experienced by their visit, and he should look to the man 

 who broke it for remuneration. 



On a subsequent evening I was present at another performance. This 

 consisted of dancing, jumping, firing of guns, etc. A large fire was first 

 built in the centre of the lodge, and the performers, with painted faces, and 

 many with masks resembling owls, wolves, and bears, crouched down with their 

 arms clasped about their knees, their blankets trailing on the ground, and 

 fastened around the neck with a single pin. After forming in a circle with 

 their faces towards the fire, they commenced jumping sideways round the blaze, 

 their arms still about their knees. In this manner they whirled around for 

 several minutes, producing a most remarkable appearance. These performers, 

 who were male, were succeeded by some thirty women with blackened faces, 

 their heads covered with down, and a girdle around their blankets drawing 

 them in tight at the waist. These danced around the fire with a shuffling, un 

 gainly gait, singing a song as loud as they could scream, which was accompanied 

 by every one in the lodge, and beating time with sticks on boards placed before 

 them for the purpose. When the dance was over, some five or six men, with 

 wreaths of sea-weed around their heads, blackened faces, and bear-skins over their 

 shoulders, rushed in and fired a volley of musketry through the roof. One of them 

 then made a speech, the purport of which was that the ceremonies had progressed 

 favorably thus far, that their hearts had become strong, and that they felt ready to 

 attack their enemies, or to repel any attack upon themselves. Their guns having 

 in the meanwhile been loaded, another volley was fired and the whole assembly 

 uttered a shout to signify approval. The performances during the daytime con 

 sisted of representations on the beach of various kinds. There was one repre 

 senting a whaling scene. An Indian on all fours, covered with a bear-skin, imitated 

 the motion of a whale while blowing. He was followed by a party of eight men 

 armed with harpoons and lances, and carrying all the implements of whaling. Two 

 boys, naked, with bodies rubbed over with Hour, and white cloths around their 



