About 4 oclock on the morning of the public dance of the Áña the
participants danced in the Hano plaza, destitute of all clothing or
helmets and accompanied by the clowns, also without masks. This feature
I had not previously observed. After this early dance páhos were
deposited at the shrine situated in the middle of the dance plaza.
As no account of the ceremonial deposit of offerings to the winds has
ever been published, the following observations are given to fill this
gap in our knowledge. Probably the object of the wind offerings is
propitiatory, for high wind, it is believed, blows away the rain, to
produce which is the main object of the observance. Kwálakwa took for
this purpose in a blanket the following objects: Nakwákwocis, native
tobacco, paper bread, píkami (pudding mush), sugar, and peaches. He
deposited a packet containing a pinch of each of these in six shrines
situated at cardinal points, beginning at the east.[116] The Hopi
begin their ceremonial circuit ordinarily at the north, but the Tewa,
it would seem, place their offerings in the following order: East,
northwest, southwest by south, southwest, southeast by east, southeast.
In the interval between two of the dances, while the Katcinas were
unmasked, and had halted under an overhanging rock on the trail a few
feet below Hano, I observed a test of endurance which I had never
before seen. Kópeli, the Snake chief, took a bundle of yucca branches,
and different volunteers from the Katcinas, stepping up to him, first
held out one arm, then the other; Kópeli struck the outstretched limb
with more or less force, and at the conclusion presented his own arm
and naked body for this trying ordeal. The Áñakatcina is illustrated in
figure 40.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF KATCINA DANCES IN CIBOLA AND TUSAYAN
The published material which can be used as a basis of comparison in
the study of Katcinas in other villages is meager and insufficient.
Even of the nearest pueblo, Zuñi, which has been more studied than many
of the others, and in which Katcina observances closely akin to those
of Tusayan are performed, the published accounts are very limited. In
a general way it seems to me that the Tusayan ceremonials are more
showy and elaborate than those at Zuñi. There is, however, one marked
exception;[117] the powerful war society, called the Priesthood of the
Bow, has more elaborate ceremonials in Zuñi than in Walpi, where this
organization is weak. It is not possible from my limited knowledge of
Zuñi ceremonials to declare that it is less complicated than that of
Tusayan, but I believe that the powerful organization mentioned has had
much to do with many of the differences between the two.
One source of information in regard to the differences and likenesses
between the Zuñi and Hopi ceremonials is the testimony of the chiefs
themselves. This does not hold in regard to modified ceremonials
primarily the same or derived from a common source, and is only
hearsay, not science.
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