Chapter 5

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 shell, 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=heartshell), are, above all other shells, sacred; and each is emblematic of a god of the order. The wrist badges of the members are also made of these shells, 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 ae[']-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 WORSHIP.

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 illustrative of the regard in which the fetiches of his order are held.

Under such circumstances 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 yaet-ton-ne, hom a-tae-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 yaet-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[']-yael-la-na-wa. Ethl thlothl-tchu-a i-na-kwe shelter(pl.)shall give. Not that whomsoever (of the) enemy shield

i-pi-kwai-nam-tun a-k'ia hom ton ai-yael-la-na-wa. pass themselves through to hence to me ye shelter shield (pl.) shall (give),

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

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

line] hom ton i-ke-i-nan ai-yael-la-na-wa. my ye heart shelter shield(pl.) shall give.

[These lines, although made immediately in front of the speaker, relate to the four points of the compass, 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 gods, 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 pass through (this line) hence, O! shelter give ye to me (from them). Long Tail [Mountain Lion], Knife-feathered [God 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 gods 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 worship than that of the mere fetichism; as, indeed, do most other recitations, chants, etc., of the War society, in any way connected with this worship.

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 worship, 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 classes:

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

2. The sacred relics of the gods, 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 Gods" (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 god 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.

Again, certain minerals (Fig. 2), or fossils, etc. (Fig. 3), will be regarded as belonging to, or parts of, the gods, yet will be used as medicines of war or the chase, or by means of which water may be produced or crops stimulated, to say nothing of their efficacy as cures, or sources of strength, etc. For instance, Fig. 2 is of aragonite, hence referred to the Upper regions, and therefore valuable to give efficacy to the paint with which plume-sticks of rain prayers are decorated; while Fig. 3, from its shape, is supposed to represent the relic of the weapon or tooth of a god, and therefore endowed with the power of Sa-wa-ni-k'ia, and hence is preserved for generations--with an interminable variety of other things--in the Order of the Warriors, as the "protective medicine of war" (Shom-i-ta-k'ia). A little of it, rubbed on a stone and mixed with much water, is a powerful medicine for protection, with which the warrior fails not to anoint his whole body before entering battle.

These amulets and implements of worship are well illustrated in the National Museum, and the subject merits extensive treatment. The facts connected with them will throw much light upon the mental characteristics and beliefs of the Zunis. At some future time I hope to set this matter forth more fully.

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NOTE.--It is to be regretted that the haste in which this paper was prepared by the author, before his departure for New Mexico, to resume his researches among the Zunis, made it impossible for him to discuss further this interesting subject. The abundant material in his possession, gained from actual membership in the order or society under discussion, would have rendered this comparatively easy under other circumstances.--Ed.

INDEX.

Amulets of the Zunis, 44 Animal carvings, worship, Zuni, 11 A[']shi-wa-ni or priests of Zuni, 12 A[']shi-wa or Zuni, 9 Bear fetich, White, Zuni, 40 Ceremonials of the hunt, Zuni, 33 Charmes of the Zunis, 44 Coyote fetich, Zuni, 26 Distribution of the animals; Zuni myth, 21 Drying of the world; Zuni myth, 13 Eagle fetich, Zuni, 29 Falcon fetich, Zuni, 30 Fetich ceremonies connected with hunting, Zuni, 33 , Coyote; Zuni hunter god of the west, 26 , Eagle; Zuni hunter god of the upper regions, 29 , Mole; Zuni hunter god of the lower regions, 30 , Mountain lion; Zuni hunter god of the north, 25, 40 , Navajo pony, 44 sheep, 44 , Wild cat; Zuni hunter god of the south, 27 , Wolf; Zuni hunter god of the east, 28 , Zuni falcon and ground owl, 30 ground owl and falcon, 30 knife feathered monster, 40 white bear, 40 Fetiches, Material used by Zunis in making, 25, 40 , Material used by Zunis in ornamenting, 25, 40 of Navajo origin, 44 , Zuni, 12 , Council of the, 32 , Custodianship of the, 30 of the prey gods of the hunt, 20 of the prey gods of the priesthood of the bow, 40 Fetiches, Zuni, of the prey gods of the six regions, 19 , Place of deposit of, 31 , Power of the, 15, 33 , Relative value of the, 30 Fetichism, Origin of Zuni, 12 God, Zuni hunter, of the east, 28 lower regions, 30 north, 25 south, 29 upper regions, 29 west, 26 Gods, Zuni prey, of the hunt, 20 priesthood of the bow, 40 six regions, 16 Hunting, Zuni ceremonials preceding, 33 Iliad, the Zuni, 12 Knife-feathered monster fetich, Zuni, 40 Lucas, J. D., Shell gorget collected by, 29 Medicine, Iroquois myth giving origin of, 18 Mi-tsi, Zuni myth of, 18 Mole fetich, Zuni, 30 Mountain lion fetich, Zuni, 25, 40 Myth, Zuni, of distribution of the animals, 21 drying of the world, 13 Mi-tsi, 18 Po-shai-an-kia; prey god, 16 Navajo fetiches, 44 Owl fetich, Zuni, 30 Philosophy, Zuni, 9 Pony fetich, Navajo, 44 Po[']-shai-an-k'ia; Prey god; Zuni myth, 16 Power of the Zuni fetiches, 15, 33 prey gods, 18 Prayers of the Zuni priesthood of the bow, 42 , Zuni, preparatory to the hunt, 33 Prey gods, Zuni, Ceremony attending worship of, 32 of the hunt, Number of the, 25 , Origin of the, 20 , Relation of, to others, 20 resemble prey gods of priesthood of the bow, 41 , Worship of the, 33 Prey godsof the six regions, Zuni, Number of the, 16 , Origin of the, 16 , Power of the, as mediators, 18 , Varieties of the, 24 , Worship of the, 19 priesthood of the bow, Zuni, 40 , Number of the, 40 , Resemble prey god of the hunt, 41 , Worship of the, 41, 43 Priesthood of the bow, Prey gods of the Zuni, 40 ; Zuni Prey Brother, 19 Priests of Zuni or A[']-shi-wa-ni, 12 Sheep fetich, Navajo, 44 We-ma-we, Zuni name for all fetiches, 12 White bear fetich, Zuni, 40 Wolf fetich, Zuni, 28 World, Zuni myth of drying of the, 12 Worship of animals, Zuni, 11 Zuni prey gods, Ceremony attending, 32 of priesthood of the bow, 41, 43 the six regions, 19 Zuni animal worship, 11 fetiches, by F. H. Cushing, 1 fetichism, Origin of, 12 Iliad, 12 mythology, 11 or A-shi-wi, 9 philosophy, 9 priest or A-shi-wi-ni, 12