Part 4 (1/2)

This is due to the fact that many of the members of the above-mentioned a.s.sociations also belong to other societies, and are required on the exact night of the New Year to perform other religious duties than those connected with the fetich wors.h.i.+p. Hence, the fetiches or G.o.ds of prey have their special New Year's day, called We-ma-a-wa u-pu-k'ia te-wa-ne (”The day of the council of the fetiches”).

On this occasion is held the grand council of the fetiches. They are all taken from their place of deposit and arranged, according to species and color, in front of a symbolic slat altar on the floor of the council chamber in a way I have attempted to indicate, as far as possible, by the arrangement of the figures on the plates, the quadrupeds being placed upright, while the Eagles and other winged fetiches are suspended from the rafters by means of cotton cords. Busily engaged in observing other ceremonials and debarred from actual entrance, until my recent initiation into the Priesthood of the Bow, I have unfortunately never witnessed any part of this ceremonial save by stealth, and cannot describe it as a whole. I reserve the right, therefore, to correct any details of the following at some future day.

The ceremonials last throughout the latter two-thirds of a night. Each member on entering approaches the altar, and with prayer-meal in hand addresses a long prayer to the a.s.sembly of fetiches, at the close of which he scatters the prayer-meal over them, breathes on and from his hand, and takes his place in the council. An opening prayer-chant, lasting from one to three hours, is then sung at intervals, in which various members dance to the sound of the constant rattles, imitating at the close of each stanza the cries of the beasts represented by the fetiches.

At the conclusion of the song, the ”Keeper of the Deer Medicine,” who is master priest of the occasion, leads off in the recitation of a long metrical ritual, in which he is followed by the two warrior priests with shorter recitations, and by a prayer from another priest (of uncertain rank). During these recitations, responses like those of the litany in the Church of England may be heard from the whole a.s.sembly, and at their close, at or after sunrise, all members flock around the altar and repeat, prayer-meal in hand, a concluding invocation. This is followed by a liberal feast, princ.i.p.ally of game, which is brought in and served by the women, with additional recitations and ceremonials. At this feast, portions of each kind of food are taken out by every member for the Prey G.o.ds, which portions are sacrificed by the priests, together with the prayer plume-sticks, several of which are supplied by each member.

CEREMONIALS OF THE HUNT.

Similar midnight ceremonials, but briefer, are observed on the occasion of the great midwinter tribal hunts, the times for which are fixed by the Keeper of the Deer Medicine, the master and warrior priests of the Sa-ni-a-k'ia-kwe; and the religious observances accompanying and following which would form one of the most interesting chapters connected with the fetich wors.h.i.+p of the Zuni's.

These ceremonials and tribal hunts are more and more rarely observed, on account of the scarcity of game and of the death a few years since of the warrior priest above mentioned, without whose a.s.sistance they cannot be performed. This position has been recently refilled, and I hope during the coming winter to be enabled, not only to witness one of these observances, but also to join in it; a privilege which will be granted to me on account of my members.h.i.+p in the order of the Priesthood of the Bow.

Any hunter, provided he be one privileged to partic.i.p.ate in the above described ceremonials--namely, a Prey brother--supplies himself, when preparing for the chase, not only with his weapons, &c., but also with a favorite or appropriate prey fetich. In order to procure the latter he proceeds, sooner or later before starting, to the House of the Deer Medicine (Nal-e-ton 'n-kwn), where the vessel containing the fetiches is brought forth by the Keeper or some subst.i.tute, and placed before him. Pacing in the direction of the region to which belongs the particular fetich which he designs to use, he sprinkles into and over the vessel sacred prayer or medicine meal. Then holding a small quant.i.ty of the meal in his left hand, over the region of his heart, he removes his head-band and utters the following prayer:

Ma: Lu-k'ia yat-ton-ne, hom ta-tchu, hom tsi-ta, tom lithl ha Why! This day, my father, my mother, (to)thee here I

te-kwn-te te-a-tip, o-na el-le-te-k'ia. Hothl yam a-ta-tchu unexpectedly have trail overtaken. Soever for my Fathers (by) road

Ka-ka A'-s.h.i.+-wa-ni, we-ma a-s.h.i.+-wa-ni, K'ia-pin-a-ha-i sacred dance priest-(G.o.ds), Prey priest-(G.o.ds), the G.o.ds animal beings

awen ha lithl yam te-li-ki-na yel-le-te-u-k'o-na theirs I here my sacred things made ready (which) for them (plumes, etc., literally relatives of the species)

te-li-ki-na i-thle-a-nan tom lithl ha o-na el-le-te-k'ia; tom sacred things with (me) unto here I road overtaken; unto bringing thee by (have) thee trail

lithl ha hal-lo-wa-ti-nan thle-a-u tom an te-ap-k'o-nan here I good fortune (ad)dress thy own wherewith (thou hast being)

a'n-ti-shem-an a-k'ia yam a-wi-te-lin tsi-ta, ha lithl wis.h.i.+ng for hence, to my all earth mother I here

te-u-su a-k'ia o-ne yathl kwai-k'ia-na.

(with prayer) hence, trail over go out shall.

(-from), prayer

Le-we u-lokh nan thla-na tom te-ap-k'o-nan sho-hi-ta tom Thus much (of the) great thy wherewith (thou (the) deer thy world hast being)

pi-nan a-k'ia a-u-la-sho. Awen s.h.i.+-nan, awen k'iah-kwn wind by encircle about Their flesh their life fluid breath (of hence wander around. (blood) life)

hothl an-ti-she-man a-k'ia, le-hok te-u-su a k'ia ha o-ne soever wanting hence yonder prayer hence I trail (from me) with

kwai k'ia-na.

go out (shall).

Kwa-i-no-ti-nam hothl yam te-ap-k'o-nan a-k'ia hom ta Without fail where- thy wherewith (thou hence (by) to me thou (unfailingly) soever for me hast being)

ke-tsa-ti-k'ia-na. Hom ta te-k'o-ha-na an-ik tchi-a-tu.

happy (make, do). Unto me thou (the) light meet with (_do_).

FREE TRANSLATION.