File:Indians of the Southwest (1903) (14764880612).jpg

Identifier: indiansofsouthwe00dors (find matches)
Title: Indians of the Southwest
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Dorsey, George A. (George Amos), 1868-1931 Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Subjects: Indians of North America
Publisher: (Chicago) Passenger department, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway system
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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Text Appearing Before Image:
heon of gods represented by men masked andotherwise appropriately costumed, such elaborate altars andbeautiful sand mosaics, or speeches and songs so archaic andancient. The preliminary one-day ceremony of Powalawu is held latein January. A beautiful sand picture, representing the sun asits central feature, is erected on the floor of the kiva. Amongthe objects scattered around may be mentioned a corn huskcontaining sacred meal and a dead mouse, which is depositedon an ant hill as a prayer that the ants satiate themselves onthe mouse and forbear to molest the crops. On the final and public performance a large number of Kat-cinas appear, the spectacle thus being one of unusual brilliancyand interest. During the feast, which falls on the evening ofthe ninth day, are eaten young shoots of beans, large quantitiesof which have been ceremonially planted just before the begin-ning of the ceremony. The Powamu seems to relate to theconsecration of the fields for the approaching planting season.
Text Appearing After Image:
The Hemis Katcina Dance, Oraibi. Katcinas The word Katcina is applied by the Hopito supernatural beings, to masked men whoimpersonate these deities, to any ceremonialdance in which these masked figures appear,to the masks themselves, or to small wood-en statuettes carved in imitation of maskeddancers and known as tihus or dolls. Inas-much as these brilliantly colored little imageshave been for many years eagerly sought bythe curio-loving world, it may be said thatthese dolls are not idols, nor are they wor-shiped. They are made by the men and aregiven to little girls by the women, either dur-ing the close of one of the great winter cere-monies or at the close of the Niman or Katcina Dancers.farewell ceremony in July. With them theHopi mothers make more vivid this particular feature of theirreligion. During March, April, May~and June, there are no great ornine-day ceremonies among the Hopi. This, does not meanthat the Hopi has discontinued his devotions, or that he is notmaking appeals

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