592, REPORT—1890. , 
are not considered identical with them, as is the case among the 
Kwakiutl. The father’s song which he sings when cleaning himself is 
an invitation for the salmon to come, and is sung in their praise. On hear- 
ing this song, and seeing the images and masks, the salmon are believed 
to come in great numbers to see the twins. Therefore the birth of twins 
is believed to indicate a good salmon year. If the salmon should fail to 
come in large numbers it is considered proof that the children will soon 
die. Twins are forbidden to catch salmon, nor must they eat or handle 
fresh salmon. They must not go sealing, as the seals would attack them. 
They have the power to make good and bad weather. They produce 
rain by painting their faces with black colour and then washing them, 
or by merely shaking their heads. 
I obtained a comparatively full account of customs practised at the 
time when the girl reaches puberty (see Sproat, p. 94). She is placed 
on the platform of the house, opposite the door, and the whole tribe are 
invited to take part in the ceremonies. A number of men and women 
are engaged to sing and dance on this occasion, and are paid for their 
Fig. 16.—Screen with painting representing Thunder-bird and Whale. 
services. While these songs, which are called ’ta’md, are sung, a man in 
the attire of a thunder-bird stands on each side of the girl. The dresses 
of these men consist each of a large mask, to which a complete dress, set 
with feathers and having two wings, is attached. The dancers wear no 
masks. Then eight men take each a dish, go down to the river, and 
fetch water, with which they return to the house. In doing so the 
must move in a circle, having their left hand on the inner side of the 
circle. Then they pour the water on the girl’s feet and return to the 
river, still moving in a circle, their left hand being on the inner side. 
As soon as this performance is over, a screen, painted with images of 
thunder-birds (fig. 16),’ is set upon the platform in front of the girl, so 
as to hide her completely. On both sides mats are hung up, and thus a 
small room is provided for the girl, who has to stay here hidden from the 
sight of men for a number of days. During this period she is always 
attended by a number of girls and women. According to Sproat’s state- 
ment, she is not allowed to see the sun or afire. According to my inform- 
ant, she must be guarded against seeing anything ugly and against 
1 A second screen with a symmetrical drawing adjoins the left side of the one 
figured above. 
