Zuni Fetiches Part 6

THE KNIFE-FEATHERED MONSTER, THE MOUNTAIN LION, AND THE GREAT WHITE BEAR.

The Priesthood of the Bow possesses three fetiches, two of which are of the We-ma-a-ha-i, (Plate X, Fig. 2, and Plate XI, Fig. 2.) The other is sometimes cla.s.sed with these, sometimes with the higher beings, and may be safely said to form a connecting link between the idolatry proper of the Zunis and their fetichism. These three beings are, the Mountain Lion (Plate X, Pig. 2), the great White Bear (Plate XI, Fig. 2), (ai?-s.h.i.+ k'o-ha-na--the G.o.d of the scalp-taking ceremonials), and the Knife-feathered Monster (a-tchi-a la-to-pa), (Plate X, Fig. 1).

This curious G.o.d is the hero of hundreds of folklore tales, and the tutelar deity of several of the societies of Zuni. He is represented as possessing a human form, furnished with flint knife-feathered pinions, and tail. His dress consists of the conventional terraced cap(representative of his dwelling-place among the clouds), and the ornaments, badge, and garments of the Ka'-ka. His weapons are the Great Flint-Knife of War, the Bow of the Skies (the Rain-bow), and the Arrow of Lightning, and his guardians or warriors are the Great Mountain Lion of the North and that of the Upper regions.

He was doubtless the original War G.o.d of the Zunis, although now secondary, in the order of war, to the two children of the Sun mentioned at the outset.

Anciently he was inimical to man, stealing and carrying away to his city in the skies the women of all nations, until subdued by other G.o.ds and men of magic powers. At present he is friendly to them, rather in the sense of an animal whose food temporarily satisfies him than in the beneficent character of most of the G.o.ds of Zuni.

[Ill.u.s.tration: s.h.i.+ELD AND FETICH OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BOW.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: s.h.i.+ELD AND FETICH OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BOW.]

Both the Great White Bear and the Mountain Lion of the War Priesthood are, as well as the Knife-feathered Demon, beings of the skies. For this reason the fetich of the Mountain Lion of the skies (of aragonite) is preferred by a Priest of the Bow above all other kinds or colors.

Unfortunately, none of the fetiches of this priesthood are to be found in the collections of the Bureau, and but one, with its pouch, has been reproduced from the original, which is in my possession. It was not presented to me with my other paraphernalia on the night of the final ceremonials of my initiation into the Priesthood of the Bow, but some months afterward when I was about to start on a dangerous expedition. At this time I was charged with carefully preserving it during life as my special fetich, and instructed in the various usages connected with it. The other was drawn from a sketch made by myself of a fetich in Zuni.

These fetiches--more usually of the Mountain Lion than of the others; very rarely of the Knife-feathered Demon--are constantly carried by the warriors when abroad in pouches like those of the Hunters, and in a similar manner. They are, however, not returned to the headquarters of the society when not in use; but, being regarded, with the other paraphernalia of their possessor, as parts of his Sa-wa-ni-k'ia, are always kept near him.

RESEMBLANCE TO THE PREY G.o.dS OF THE HUNT.

The perfect fetich of this order differs but little from those of the Hunters, save that it is more elaborate and is sometimes supplied with a minute heart of turkois bound to the side of the figure with sinew of the Mountain Lion, with which, also, the arrow-point is invariably attached, usually to the back or belly. The precious beads of sh.e.l.l, turkois, coral, or black stone, varied occasionally with small univalves from the ocean, are bound over all with a cotton cord. These univalves, theoliva (tsu-i-ke-i-nan-ne=heartsh.e.l.l), are, above all other sh.e.l.ls, sacred; and each is emblematic of a G.o.d of the order. The wrist badges of the members are also made of these sh.e.l.ls, strung on a thong of buckskin taken from the enemy. The arrow-point, when placed on the back of the fetich, is emblematic of the Knife of War (Sa-wa-ni-k'ia a'-tchi-en-ne), and is supposed, through the power of Sa-wa-ni-k'ia or the "magic medicine of war" (?) to protect the wearer from the enemy from behind or from other unexpected quarters. When placed "under the feet" or belly, it is, through the same power, considered capable of effacing the tracks of the wearer, that his trail may not be followed by the enemy.

THE RITES OF THEIR WORs.h.i.+P.

The ceremonial observed by a Priest of the Bow, when traveling alone in a country where danger is to be apprehended from the enemy, may be taken as most ill.u.s.trative of the regard in which the fetiches of his order are held.

Under such circ.u.mstances the warrior takes out his fetich from the pouch, and, scattering a pinch or two of sacred flour toward each of the four quarters with his right hand, holds it in his left hand over his breast, and kneels or squats on the ground while uttering the accompanying prayer:

Si! Lu-k'ia yat-ton-ne, hom a-ta-tchu K'ia-pin-a-ha-i le-we Si! This day, my Fathers, Animal Beings, (all) thus much

i-na-kwe po-ti-tap-te hom ton te-hi-a-na-we. Ethl (by) enemies filled through me ye precious render Not (all do).

tel-i-kwen-te thlothl tchu-a i-na-kwe hom kwa'-hothl a-k'ia that (in any)way soever whom (of the) enemy my whatsoever with unexpected

a-tsu-ma-na-wam-i-k'ia-na. Lu-k'ia yat-ton-ne hom to le'-na daring (existence) (pl.) shall. This day to me ye thus

[At this point, while-still continuing the prayer, he scratches or cuts in the earth or sands with the edge of the arrow-point, which is lashed to the back or feet of the fetich, a line about five or six inches in length].

ai'-yal-la-na-wa. Ethl thlothl-tchu-a i-na-kwe shelter(pl.)shall give. Not that whomsoever (of the) enemy s.h.i.+eld

i-pi-kwai-nam-tun a-k'ia hom ton ai-yal-la-na-wa.

pa.s.s themselves through to hence to me ye shelter s.h.i.+eld (pl.) shall (give),

[Here he scratches a second line.] Hak-ti-ta'sh-a-na, Tail-long (Mountain Lion),

[scratches a third line.] a-tchi-a-la'-to-pa, [scratches a fourth Knife-feathered,

line] hom ton i-ke-i-nan ai-yal-la-na-wa.

my ye heart shelter s.h.i.+eld(pl.) shall give.

[These lines, although made immediately in front of the speaker, relate to the four points of the compa.s.s, the other two regions not being taken into account, since it is impossible for the enemy to bring harm from either above or below the plane on which the subject moves. It may be well to add, also, that four (the number of the true fingers) is the sacred numeral of the Zunis, as with most all Indian tribes and many other lower races.]

FREE TRANSLATION.

Si! This day, my fathers, ye animal G.o.ds, although this country be filled with enemies, render me precious. That my existence may not be in any way so ever unexpectedly dared by the enemy, thus, O! shelter give ye to me (from them). (In order) that none of the enemy may pa.s.s through (this line) hence, O! shelter give ye to me (from them). Long Tail [Mountain Lion], Knife-feathered [G.o.d of the Knife Wings], O! give ye shelter of my heart from them.

On the conclusion of this prayer the fetich is breathed upon and replaced, or sometimes withheld until after the completion of the war-song and other chants in which the three G.o.ds mentioned above are, with others, named and exhorted, thereby, in the native belief, rendering protection doubly certain. I am of course thoroughly familiar with these war chants, rituals, etc. They abound in archaic terms and are fraught with great interest, but belong more properly to another department of Zuni wors.h.i.+p than that of the mere fetichism; as, indeed, do most other recitations, chants, etc., of the War society, in any way connected with this wors.h.i.+p.

Before following the trail of an enemy, on rinding his camp, or on overtaking and destroying him, many ceremonials are performed, many prayers are uttered, much the same as those described relative to the chase, save that they are more elaborate and more irrelevant to the subject in hand. As with the Hunter, so with the Warrior, the fetich is fed on the life-blood of the slain.

OTHER FETICHES.

FETICHES OF NAVAJO ORIGIN.

THE PONY.

Among other specimens in the collection to which these notes relate are several pieces representing the horse and domesticated sheep, of which Plate IX, Figs. 3 and 4, are the best examples. Both are of Navajo importation, by which tribe they are much prized and used. The original of Fig. 3 represents a saddled pony, and has been carefully carved from a small block of compact white limestone veined like Italian marble.

This kind of fetich, according to the Zunis, is manufactured at will by privileged members of the Navajo nation, and carried about during hunting and war excursions in "medicine bags," to insure the strength, safety, and endurance of the animals they represent.

THE SHEEP.

Plate IX, Fig. 4, represents a superb large sheep fetich of purplish-pink fluorspar, the eyes being inlaid with small turkoises.

Such are either carried about by the shepherds or kept in their huts, and, together with certain ceremonials, are supposed not only to secure fecundity of the flocks, but also to guard them against disease, the animals of prey, or death by accident.

AMULETS AND CHARMS.

In addition to the animal fetiches heretofore described, many others are found among the Zunis as implements of their wors.h.i.+p, and as amulets or charms for a variety of purposes. The painted and plumed prayer-sticks are of this character.

The amulets proper may be roughly divided into three cla.s.ses:

1. Concretions and other strange rock formations, which, on account of their forms, are thought to have been portions of the G.o.ds, of their weapons, implements, and ornaments, their te-ap-ku-na-we (the wherewithals of Being).

2. The sacred relics of the G.o.ds, which are supposed to have been given to man directly by their possessors, in the "days of the new," and include the "Gifts of the G.o.ds" (yel-le-te-li-we).

3. The magic "medicines" which are used as protective, curative, and productive agencies, and are known as the e ta-we and a-kwa-we (the "contained" and the "medicines").

One object, a mere concretion, will have something about it suggesting an organ of the human body. (See, for example, Fig. 1.) It will then be regarded as the genital organ of some ancient being, and will be highly prized, not only as a means of approaching the spirit of the G.o.d to whom it is supposed to have once belonged, but also as a valuable aid to the young man in his conquests with the women, to the young woman in her hope to bear male children.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 1.--Concretion.]