The Medicine-Men of the Apache. (1892 N 09 / 1887-1888 (pages 443-604))Bourke, John Gregory
Religion
The Medicine-Men of the Apache. (1892 N 09 / 1887-1888 (pages 443-604))
Bourke, John Gregory
Apache Indians -- Medicine; Apache Indians -- Religion; Apache Indians -- Rites and ceremonies; Shamans -- New Mexico
It is more than probable that some of the face-painting with "black
earth," "ground charcoal," etc., to which reference is made by the
early writers, may have been galena, which substance makes a
deep-black mark. The natives would be likely to make use of their
most sacred powder upon first meeting with mysterious strangers like
Vaca and his companions. So, when the expedition of La Salle reached
the mouth of the Ohio, in 1680, the Indians are described as fasting
and making superstitious sacrifices; among other things, they marked
themselves with "black earth" and with "ground charcoal." "Se daban
con Tierra Negra o Carbon molido."[523]
From an expression in Burton, I am led to suspect that the application
of kohl or antimony to the eyes of Arabian beauty is not altogether
for ornament. "There are many kinds of kohl used in medicine and
magic."[524]
Corbusier says of the Apache-Yuma: "Galena and burnt mescal are used
on their faces, the former to denote anger or as war paint, being
spread all over the face, except the chin and nose, which are painted
red."[525]
In Coleman's Mythology of the Hindus, London, 1832, page 165, may be
found a brief chapter upon the subject of the sectarial marks of the
Hindus. With these we may fairly compare the marks which the Apache,
on ceremonial occasions, make upon cheeks and forehead. The adherents
of the Brahminical sects, before entering a temple, must mark
themselves upon the forehead with the tiluk. Among the Vishnuites,
this is a longitudinal vermilion line. The Seevites use several
parallel lines in saffron.[526] Maurice adds that the Hindus place the
tiluk upon their idols in twelve places.[527] "Among the Kaffir the
warriors are rendered invulnerable by means of a black cross on their
foreheads and black stripes on the cheeks, both painted by the
Inyanga, or fetich priest."[528]
A piece of galena weighing 7½ pounds was found in a mound near Naples,
Illinois.[529] Occasionally with the bones of the dead are noticed
small cubes of galena; and in our collection is a ball of this ore,
weighing a pound and two ounces, which was taken from a mound, and
which probably did service, enveloped in raw hide, as some form of
weapon.[530] Galena was much prized by the former inhabitants of North
America. "The frequent occurrence of galena on the altars of the
sacrificial mounds proves, at any rate, that the ancient inhabitants
attributed a peculiar value to it, deeming it worthy to be offered as
a sacrificial gift."[531] See also Squier and Davis.[532]
FOOTNOTES:
[247] Deane, Serpent Worship, London, 1833, p. 410.
[248] The medicine sack or bag of the Apache, containing their
"hoddentin," closely resembles the "bullæ" of the Romans--in which "On
y mettait des préservatifs contre les maléfices." Musée de Naples,
London, 1836, p. 4. Copy shown me by Mr. Spofford, of the Library of
Congress.
[249] Information of Tze-go-juni.
[250] Information of Concepcion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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