Zuni Fetiches Part 2

Still, day after day, though weak and disheartened, men and the Ka'-ka sought game in the mountains. At last a great Elk was given liberty. His sides shook with tallow, his dewlap hung like a bag, so fleshy was it, his horns spread out like branches of a dead tree, and his crackling hoofs cut the sands and even the rocks as he ran westward.

He circled far off toward the Red River, pa.s.sed through the Round Valley, and into the northern canons. The Sha'-la-k'o was out hunting.

He espied the deep tracks of the elk and fleetly followed him. Pa.s.sing swift and strong was he, though weak from hunger, and ere long he came in sight of the great Elk. The sight gladdened and strengthened him; but alas! the Elk kept his distance as he turned again toward the hiding-place of his brother animals. On and on the Sha'-la-k'o followed him, until he came to the edge of a great canon, and peering over the brink discovered the hiding-place of all the game animals of the world.

"Aha! so here you all are," said he. "I'll hasten back to my father, Pa-u-ti-wa,[1] who hungers for flesh, alas! and grows weak." And like the wind the Sha'-la-k'o returned to Ko-thlu-el-lon-ne. Entering, he informed the Ka'-ka, and word was sent out by the swift Sa-la-mo-pi-a[2] to all the We-ma-a-ha-i for counsel and a.s.sistance, for the We-ma-a-ha-i were now the Fathers of men and the Ka'-ka . The Mountain Lion, the Coyote, the Wild Cat, the Wolf, the Eagle, the Falcon, the Ground Owl, and the Mole were summoned, all hungry and lean, as were the Ka'-ka and the children of men, from want of the flesh of the game animals. Nevertheless, they were anxious for the hunt and moved themselves quickly among one another in their anxiety. Then the pa.s.sing swift runners, the Sa-la-mo-pi-a, of all colors, the yellow, the blue, the red, the white, the many colored, and the black, were summoned to accompany the We-ma-a-ha-i to the canon-valley of the Snail People. Well they knew that pa.s.sing wonderful were the Snail People, and that no easy matter would it be to overcome their medicine and their magic. But they hastened forth until they came near to the canon. Then the Sha'-la-k'o,[3] who guided them, gave directions that they should make themselves ready for the hunt.

When all were prepared, he opened by his sacred power the magic corral on the northern side, and forth rushed a great buck Deer.

"Long Tail, the corral has been opened for thee. Forth comes thy game, seize him!" With great leaps the Mountain Lion overtook and threw the Deer to the ground, and fastened his teeth in his throat.

The corral was opened on the western side. Forth rushed a Mountain Sheep.

"Coyote, the corral has been opened for thee. Forth comes thy game, seize him!" The Coyote dashed swiftly forward. The Mountain Sheep dodged him and ran off toward the west. The Coyote crazily ran about yelping and barking after his game, but the Mountain Sheep bounded from rock to rock and was soon far away. Still the Coyote rushed crazily about, until the Mountain Lion commanded him to be quiet. But the Coyote smelled the blood of the Deer and was beside himself with hunger. Then the Mountain Lion said to him disdainfully, Satisfy thy hunger on the blood that I have spilled, for to-day thou hast missed thy game; and thus ever will thy descendants like thee blunder in the chase. As thou this day satisfiest thy hunger, so also by the blood that the hunter spills or the flesh that he throws away shall thy descendants forever have being."

[Footnote 1: The chief G.o.d of the Ka'-ka, now represented by masks, and the richest costuming known to the Zunis, which are worn during the winter ceremonials of the tribe.]

[Footnote 2: The Sa-la-mo-pi-a are monsters with round heads, long snouts, huge feathered necks, and human bodies. They are supposed to live beneath the waters, to come forth or enter snout foremost. They also play an important part in the Ka'-ka or sacred dances of winter.]

[Footnote 3: Monster human bird forms, the warrior chiefs of Pa-u-ti-wa, the representatives of which visit Zuni, from their supposed western homes in certain springs, each New Year. They are more than twelve feet high, and are carried swiftly about by persons concealed under their dresses.]

The corral was opened on the southern side. An Antelope sprang forth.

With bounds less strong than those of the Mountain Lion, but nimbler, the Wild Cat seized him and threw him to the ground.

The corral was opened on the eastern side. Forth ran the o-ho-li (or albino antelope). The Wolf seized and threw him. The Jack Rabbit was let out. The Eagle poised himself for a moment, then swooped upon him. The Cotton Tail came forth. The Prey Mole waited in his hole and seized him; the Wood Rat, and the Falcon made him his prey; the Mouse, and the Ground Owl quickly caught him.

While the We-ma-a-ha-i were thus satisfying their hunger, the game animals began to escape through the breaks in the corral. Forth through the northern door rushed the Buffalo, the great Elk, and the Deer, and toward the north the Mountain Lion, and the yellow Sa-la-mo-pi-a swiftly followed and herded them, to the world where stands the yellow mountain, below the great northern ocean.

Out through the western gap rushed the Mountain Sheep, herded and driven by the Coyote and the blue Sa-la-mo-pi-a, toward the great western ocean, where stands the ancient blue mountain.

Out through the southern gap rushed the Antelope, herded and driven by the Wild Cat and the red Sa-la-mo-pi-a, toward the great land of summer, where stands the ancient red mountain.

Out through the eastern gap rushed the o-ho-li, herded and driven by the Wolf and the white Sa-la-mo-pi-a, toward where "they say" is the eastern ocean, the "Ocean of day", wherein stands the ancient white mountain.

Forth rushed in all directions the Jack Rabbit, the Cotton Tail, the Bats, and the Mice, and the Eagle, the Falcon, and the Ground Owl circled high above, toward the great "Sky ocean," above which stands the ancient mountain of many colors, and they drove them over all the earth, that from their homes in the air they could watch them in all places; and the Sa-la-mo-pi-a of many colors rose and a.s.sisted them.

Into the earth burrowed the Rabbits, the Bats, and the Mice, from the sight of the Eagle, the Falcon, and the Ground Owl, but the Prey Mole and the black Sa-la-mo-pi-a thither followed them toward the four caverns (wombs) of earth, beneath which stands the ancient black mountain.

Then the earth and winds were filled with rumbling from the feet of the departing animals, and the Snail People saw that their game was escaping; hence the world was filled with the wars of the Ka'-ka, the Snail People, and the children of men.

Thus were let loose the game animals of the world. Hence the Buffalo, the Great Elk, and the largest Deer are found mostly in the north, where they are ever pursued by the great Mountain Lion; but with them escaped other animals, and so not alone in the north are the Buffalo, the Great Elk, and the Deer found.

Among the mountains and the canons of the west are found the Mountain Sheep, pursued by the Coyote; but with them escaped many other animals; hence not alone in the west are the Mountain Sheep found.

Toward the south escaped the Antelopes, pursued by the Wild Cat. Yet with them escaped many other animals; hence not alone in the south are the Antelopes found.

Toward the east escaped the o-ho-li, pursued by the Wolf; but with them escaped many other animals; hence not alone in the east are the o-ho-li-we found.

Forth in all directions escaped the Jack Rabbits, Cotton Tails, Rats, and Mice; hence over all the earth are they found. Above them in the skies circle the Eagle, the Falcon, and the Ground Owl; yet into the earth escaped many of them, followed by the Prey Mole; hence beneath the earth burrow many.

Thus, also, it came to be that the Yellow Mountain Lion is the master Prey Being of the north, but his younger brothers, the blue, the red, the white, the spotted, and the black Mountain Lions wander over the other regions of earth. Does not the spotted Mountain Lion (evidently the Ocelot) live among the _high_ mountains of the south?

Thus, too, was it with the Coyote, who is the master of the West, but whose younger brothers wander over all the regions; and thus, too, with the Wild Cat and the Wolf.

In this tradition there is an attempt, not only to explain the special distribution throughout the six regions, of the Prey animals and their prey, but also to account for the occurrence of animals in regions other than those to which, according to this cla.s.sification, they properly belong.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MOUNTAIN LION FETICHES OF THE CHASE--HUNTER G.o.d OF THE NORTH]

THEIR VARIETIES.

We find, therefore, that each one of the six species of Prey animals is again divided into six varieties, according to color, which determines the location of each variety in that one or other of the regions with which its color agrees, yet it is supposed to owe allegiance to its representative, whatsoever this may be or wheresoever placed. For instance, the Mountain Lion is primarily G.o.d of the North, but he is supposed to have a representative (younger brother) in the West (the blue Mountain Lion), another in the South (the Red), in the East (the White), in the Upper regions (the Spotted), and in the Lower regions (the black Mountain Lion).

Hence, also, there are six varieties of the fetich representing any one of these divisions, the variety being determined by the color, as expressed either by the material of which the fetich is formed, or the pigment with which it is painted, or otherwise, as, for example, by inlaying. (Plate III, Fig. 4, and Plate VII, Fig. 2.)

THE MOUNTAIN LION--HUNTER G.o.d OF THE NORTH.

According to this cla.s.sification, which is native, the fetiches of the Mountain Lions are represented on Plate IV. They are invariably distinguished by the tail, which is represented very long, and laid lengthwise of the back from the rump nearly or quite to the shoulders, as well as by the ears, which are quite as uniformly rounded and not prominent.

The fetich of the yellow Mountain Lion (Ha'k-ti ta'sh-a-na thlup-tsi-na), or G.o.d of the North (Plate IV, Fig. 1), is of yellow limestone.[1] It has been smoothly carved, and is evidently of great antiquity, as shown by its polish and patina, the latter partly of blood. The a.n.u.s and eyes are quite marked holes made by drilling. An arrow-point of flint is bound to the back with cordage of cotton, which latter, however, from its newness, seems to have been recently added.

The fetich of the blue Mountain Lion, of the West (Ha'k-ti ta'sh-a-na thli-a-na), is represented in Plate IV, Fig. 2. The original is composed of finely veined azurite or carbonate of copper, which, although specked with harder serpentinous nodules, is almost entirely blue. It has been carefully finished, and the ears, eyes, nostrils, mouth, tail, a.n.u.s, and legs are clearly cut.

The fetich of the white Mountain Lion, of the East (Ha'k-ti ta'sh-a-na k'o-ha-na), is represented by several specimens, two of which are reproduced in Plate IV, Figs. 3 and 4. The former is very small and composed of compact white limestone, the details being p.r.o.nounced, and the whole specimen finished with more than usual elaboration. The latter is unusually large, of compact gypsum or alabaster, and quite carefully carved. The eyes have been inlaid with turkoises, and there is cut around its neck a groove by which the beads of sh.e.l.l, coral, &c., were originally fastened. A large arrow-head of chalcedony has been bound with cords of cotton flatwise along one side of the body.

The only fetich representing the red Mountain Lion, of the South (Ha'k-ti ta'sh-a-na a-ho-na), in the collection was too imperfect for reproduction.

[Footnote 1: I am indebted to Mr. S.F. Emmons, of the Geological Survey, for a.s.sisting me to determine approximately the mineralogical character of these specimens.]

The fetich of the spotted or many-colored Mountain Lion (Ha'k-ti ta'sh-a-na su-pa-no-pa _or_ i-to-pa-nah-na-na), of the Upper regions, is also represented by two specimens (Plate IV, Figs. 5 and 6), both of fibrous aragonite in alternating thin and thick laminae, or bands of grayish yellow, white, and blue. Fig. 5 is by far the more elaborate of the two, and is, indeed, the most perfect fetich in the collection. The legs, ears, eyes, nostrils, mouth, tail, a.n.u.s, and genital organs (of the male) are carefully carved, the eyes being further elaborated by mosaics of minute turkoises. To the right side of the body, "over the heart," is bound with blood-blackened cotton cords a delicate flint arrow-point, together with white sh.e.l.l and coral beads, and, at the breast, a small triangular figure of an arrow in haliotus, or abalone.

The fetich of the black Mountain Lion (Ha'k-ti ta'sh-a-na s.h.i.+-k'ia-na) (Pl. IV, Fig. 7) is of gypsum, or white limestone, but has been painted black by pigment, traces of which are still lodged on portions of its surface.

THE COYOTE--HUNTER G.o.d OF THE WEST.

The fetiches of the Coyote, or G.o.d of the West, and his younger brothers, represented on Plate V, are called Tethl-po-k'ia, an archaic form of the modern word Sus-k'i we-ma-we (Coyote fetiches), from _tethl-nan_,=a sacred prayer-plume, and _po-an_,=an object or locality on or toward which anything is placed, a depository, and _k'ia_=the active participle. They are usually distinguished by horizontal or slightly drooping tails, pointed or small snouts, and erect ears.

Although the Coyote of the West is regarded as the master of the Coyotes of the other five regions, yet, in the prayers, songs, and recitations of the Sa-ni-a-k'ia-kwe, and Prey Brother Priesthood, the Coyote of the North is mentioned first. I therefore preserve the same sequence observed in describing the Mountain Lion fetiches.

The fetich of the yellow Coyote (Sus-k'i thlup-tsi-na), of the North, is represented in Plate V, Fig. 1. The original is of compact white limestone stained yellow. The att.i.tude is that of a coyote about to pursue his prey (la-hi-na i-mo-na), which has reference to the intemperate haste on the part of this animal, which usually, as in the foregoing tradition, results in failure.

The fetich of the blue Coyote, of the West (Sus-k'i lo-k'ia-na--signifying in reality blue gray, the color of the coyote, instead of blue=thli-a-na), is shown, in Plate V, Fig. 2. This fetich is also of compact white limestone, of a yellowish gray color, although traces of blue paint and large turkois eyes indicate that it was intended, like Plate III, Fig. 3, to represent the G.o.d of the West.

The fetich of the red Coyote (Sus-k'i a-ho-na), of the South, is represented by Plate V, Fig. 4, which, although of white semi-translucent calcite, has been deeply stained with red paint.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE COYOTE FETICHES OF THE CHASE--HUNTER G.o.d OF THE WEST.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: WILD CAT FETICHES OF THE CHASE--HUNTER G.o.d OF THE SOUTH.]

Two examples of the fetich of the white Coyote (Sus-k'i k'o-ha-na), of the East, are shown in Plate V, Figs. 4 and 5. They are both of compact white limestone. The first is evidently a natural fragment, the feet being but slightly indicated by grinding, the mouth by a deep cut straight across the snout, and the eyes by deeply drilled depressions, the deep groove around, the neck being designed merely to receive the necklace. The second, however, is more elaborate, the pointed chin, horizontal tail, and p.r.i.c.ked-up ears being distinctly carved, and yet in form the specimen resembles more a weasel than a coyote.