550 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY 



According to Mr. Tate, the Dog Eaters belong to LEg-e'°x. The 

 name of the supernatural power is Hanatana ; the name of the society, 

 No'Ieiu. He describes the ceremony as follows: 



"The supernatural power comes down to the roof of the chief's house 

 with great noise. It passes through the roof while the whistles are 

 sounding, and the chief falls flat to the ground. Blood streams out 

 of his mouth, because the supernatural power has gone straight to 

 his heart. Then the whole society assemble around him, and they 

 carry him from house to house. Finally they are supposed to blow 

 him into the air by shouting. Then they all go to their own house. 



"The chief has now disappeared, and after ten days he goes down 

 to the house of some chief in another tribe. Each time he does so he 

 catches two or three dogs, and then goes back into the woods. After 

 ten days more he appears hi his own village, shouting, "Ewumdm 

 mam, mam, gap, gap, gap, gap!" a terrible whistle is heard, and the 

 people of each house give him one dog. If there are no dogs in a 

 house, the people give him five elk skins in place of the dog. After 

 he has gone through the village, he goes back to his home in the 

 woods. Each night he comes down to some house, for he is hungry 

 for dogs. 



"After ten days he appears on the beach in front of his own village. 

 A large eagle takes him there. He appears very early in the morning. 

 He is quite naked. Then the whole Dog-Eater Society assemble in 

 their own house and sing their songs. After two songs, they come 

 out — men, women, and children — with wooden drums, and carrying 

 a plank, on which time is beaten. They sing while they are going 

 down to the beach. A high prince carries a live dog in Ms hands, 

 going in front of the rest of the members of the society. When they 

 come to the novice, he looks at the society, and the prince throws 

 the live dog at him. He catches it before it falls down, tears its back, 

 and eats it before he goes up to the village. By this time the large 

 eagle has vanished. Then he goes up to the village surrounded by the 

 members of his company, who are singing. Before he enters the first 

 house, he catches a dog and eats it. Thus they go from house to 

 house, and in every one he catches a dog. Then they take him to 

 their own house. 



"After several hours he comes out again and catches some more 

 dogs. Tins is repeated several times during the day. 



"In the evening they borrow some chief's house to show that the 

 novice has come back. Then all the people assemble; and when 

 they are all in, they have a performance similar to that of the Canni- 

 bals. The novice eats a dog, which he carries on his arms. His face 

 is smeared with dog's blood, and his mouth is full of dog meat. 

 Then they go back to their own house and put up a pole as a sign to 

 warn away the common people. 



