At the present stage of my researches it would be too early to
write such an account of the ceremonial calendar of the Tusayan
villagers, but it has been deemed well to put on record, with many new
observations, this preliminary outline of what may be a portion of a
general system, to aid other investigators in kindred fields of study.
When I began my work, four years ago, the task of bringing order out of
what appeared to be a hopeless confusion seemed well nigh impossible,
but as one ceremony after another was studied it was found that the
exactness of the ritual as exemplified in ceremonial presentations
pertained even to details, and that there was a logical connection
running throughout all the religious observances of the Tusayan
Indians, the presentations of which were practically little influenced
by white races with whom the people had been brought in contact. As
these ceremonials were studied more sympathetically I discovered a
unity throughout them which, whatever their origin may have been,
placed them in marked contrast to those of the nomads by whom they were
surrounded. They were found to belong to a type or ceremonial area in
which the other Pueblos are embraced, the affinities of which carry us
into different geographic regions of the American continent.
But while this type differs or differed in ancient times from those of
Athapascan or Shoshonean aborigines, it bears evidence of a composite
nature. It had become so by contributions from many sources, and had
in turn left its impress on other areas, so that as a type the Pueblo
culture was the only one of its kind in aboriginal America. With strong
affinities on all sides it was unique, having nearest kinship with
those of Mexico and Central America.
The geographic extension of the Pueblo type of culture was no doubt
formerly much greater than it is at the present time. What its
original boundaries were future investigation will no doubt help us
to decide, but the problem at present before us is the determination
of its characteristics as a survival in our times. When once this
is satisfactorily known, and not until then, can we advance with
confidence to wider generalizations as to its past distribution and
offer theories regarding its affinities with other ceremonial areas of
the American race.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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