When the Xo´-ḳa have finished reciting the first section of the Footstep
Wi´-gi-e, which speaks of the approach of the little ones to the sun,
he and the Sho´-ḳa continue their march. Again they pause and the
Xo´-ḳa recites the second section which tells of the approach of the
little ones toward the moon seeking for long life. The fourth pause
brings them to the door of the House of Mystery, which they enter,
followed by the A´-ḳi-hoⁿ Xo´-ḳa and the Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga of the Puma
gens who are to give their child a place in the visible universe. They
take their place at the east end of the lodge where sit the father and
mother with the child. The Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga who had been called to take
part in the ceremony also enter and take their fixed places, those
belonging to the Hoⁿ´-ga great division at the south side and those of
the Ṭsi´-zhu great division at the north side of the lodge. (Fig. 1.)
THE WA-THE´-THE CEREMONY
When all the Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga have become settled in their places,
according to gentes, the A´-ḳi-hoⁿ Xo´-ḳa proceeds with the ceremonial
acts called Wa-the´-the, which, translated literally, means, The
Sending; that is, the sending of a fee of a blanket or other article
of value to each, head of the gentes taking part in the child-naming
ceremony. It is understood by these ceremonial acts that the members
of the gens to whose head is sent a fee are requested to recite the
wi´-gi-e relating to the Life Symbol of their gens. Each article is
received from the hands of the A´-ḳi-hoⁿ Xo´-ḳa by the Sho´-ḳa who
delivers it to the head of the gens for whom it is sent.
Wa-xthi´-zhi, who gives this child-naming ritual of his gens, the Puma,
when acting as A´-ḳi-hoⁿ Xo´-ḳa, sends the fees in the following order:
Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge: Fee, with a red downy eagle feather, symbolizing
the sun. The members of the gens will recite their wi´-gi-e relating
to the life-giving power of the sun. (See 36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer.
Ethn., p. 124, lines 1 to 177.)
Wa-ça´-be: Fee; will recite the Zha´-zhe Ḳi-ṭoⁿ Wi´-gi-e, Name Wi´-gi-e
of the gens. (See 36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 228, lines 238
to 304.) The Wa-ça´-be and the Iⁿ-gthoⁿ´-ga gentes are closely related
and one acts as Sho´-ḳa for the other in their ceremonies of initiation
into the mysteries of the tribal rites.
Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ: Fee; will recite their wi´-gi-e relating to the
life-giving power of the sun, their life symbol. (See 36th Ann. Rept.
Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 118, lines 1 to 36.)
Hoⁿ´-ga A-hiu-ṭoⁿ: Fee; will recite wi´-gi-e relating to the mottled
eagle, the “stainless” bird that led the people down from the sky to
the earth. (See 36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 162, lines 177 to
311.)
Mi-k’iⁿ´ Wa-noⁿ: Fee; the members of this gens will recite their
wi´-gi-e relating to the moon and all the stars and to their power to
aid the “little ones” to reach old age. (See 36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer.
Ethn., p. 122, lines 1 to 44.)
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