The Sia: (1894 N 11 / 1889-1890 (pages 3-158))Stevenson, Matilda Coxe
History
The Sia: (1894 N 11 / 1889-1890 (pages 3-158))
Stevenson, Matilda Coxe
Zia Indians
the Knife Society sit on the west side of the room and the Warriors on
the east side, the ho´naaites of the societies sitting at the north end
of either line, each ho´naaite having his vicar by his side, and the
victor by the side of the vicar of the Warriors; he does not join in
the song, but sits perfectly still. At sunrise the scalp is washed in
yucca suds and cold water by each member of the Knife Society, and the
victor’s hands are then bathed for the first time since the scalping,
and he proceeds to paint his body. The face and lower portion of the
legs are colored red and the remainder black, and galena is then spread
over the greater portion of the face. The Knife Society wears white
cotton embroidered Tusayan kilts and moccasins, and the Warriors wear
kilts of unornamented buckskin, excepting the fringes at the bottom and
the pouch made from the buckskin apparel captured from the enemy. The
victor wears the buckskin kilt, moccasins, and pouch, and he carries a
bow and arrows in his left hand, and the pole with the scalp attached
to it in the right. Each member of the society also carries a bow and
arrows in the left hand and a single arrow in the right. The members of
the Knife Society have gourd rattles in their right hands and bows and
arrows in the left. The hair of all is left flowing.
An arrow point is placed in the mouth of the victor by the ho´naaite of
the Knife Society, and they all then proceed to the plaza, the members
of each society forming in a line and the victor dancing to and fro
between the lines, raising the scalp as high as the pole will reach,
but he does not sing or speak a word. The numbers in the lines are
increased by the men of the village carrying war clubs and firearms,
keeping up a continual volley with their pistols and guns until
the close of the dance at sundown. The women are not debarred from
exhibiting their enthusiasm, and they join in the dance.
Upon their return to the ceremonial chamber the scalp is again
deposited before the meal painting and the ho´naaite of the Knife
Society proceeds with the final epic ritual which completes the
initiation of the victor into the Society of Warriors, closing with
these words: “You are now a member of the Society of Warriors,” and he
then removes the arrow point from the victor’s mouth. The members, in
conjunction with the victor, respond “Yes! Yes!”
[Illustration: BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. XXXIII
PRAYER TO THE RISING SUN.]
The cotton shirt and trousers are then donned and the scalp is carried
to the scalp-house (a cavity in the earth covered with a mound of
stone) and deposited with food for the spirit of the departed enemy.
Again returning to the ceremonial chamber, fast is broken for the
first time during the day, when a feast, which is served by the
female relatives of the victor, is enjoyed. After the meal they go to
the river and remove all evidences of the paint upon their bodies.
Continency is observed four days.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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