boas] TSIMSHIAN SOCIETY 551 



"After four days the society calls the people to their own house. 



"Before this tune the chief of the Dog Eaters has invited all the 

 chiefs and princes from every tribe that belong to the same society, 

 and they come on this clay one by one. The}- enter the house through 

 the roof, not through the door, and every one catches a dog when he 

 arrives. 



"If a person loves his dog, he puts a ring of cedar bark, red and 

 white, around its neck, and the owner gives some food to the Dog 

 Eaters. Then they will spare the clog. 



" When the Dog Eaters are all assembled in their house, the chiefs 

 and princes of each tribe sing each his own song, and each beats his 

 own dram. All these songs are sung at the same time. No common 

 people are allowed to enter the house. Two or three hours after the 

 singing some one runs out and calls all the people. They all enter; 

 and as they sit down on the floor, they are ready to run out at any 

 moment. Now the Dog Eaters begin to sing; and the great chief 

 goes out first with a mask on his head representing a bird with a very 

 long bill, about twenty feet long. Four dogs' heads are attached to 

 the bill. On top is a special compartment covered with dogs' heads. 

 These are the heads of the dogs which he has eaten during his initia- 

 tion. Each chief and each prince has his own mask. After the song 

 they all go to their room, which is screened off from the rest of the 

 house. Then another Dog-Eater's song is sung, and they all come 

 forward, carrying a dog or part of a dog. The chief Dog Eater enters 

 last, carrying a large dog, and during the song they all eat of their 

 dogs. 



"Some females belong to this company. They also appear without 

 blankets, but they wear a skirt woven of red and white cedar bark. 



"After they have eaten the nogs, they come out again, wearing 

 grizzly-bear blankets. The singers sing a marching-song, and the 

 chief dancer goes around the fire, his hands first stretched upward. 

 The chiefs, princes, and princesses are all dancing. When, in the 

 song, the word 'dog eater' is uttered, they all get excited. If this 

 happens while the dancer appears with the mask on, the dog heads 

 begin to howl, and all the chiefs and princes begin to shout. Drums 

 are beaten, and dogs are heard to howl. Then all the common people 

 ran out as quickly as possible. If any one mentions the word 'dog' 

 by mistake, they also become excited; therefore the dogs are called 

 'beasts of the field.'" 



Mr. Tate says about the Destroyer dance, which is called Wl'nanal, 

 that it is fit only for young people, not for old people, because they 

 need much strength in breaking houses, canoes, and boxes. The 

 protector of this dance is Txa-g'a'xsEm lax-ha'. 



"The supernatural power of this dance suddenly comes upon the 

 eldest son of Chief L,Ege'°x, whose name is Sa°ks. He is the nephew 



