The scalp ceremonial of Zuñi / by Elsie Clews Parsons.

  • Parsons, Elsie Worthington Clews, 1874-1941.
Date:
1924
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The scalp ceremonial of Zuñi / by Elsie Clews Parsons. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    make her, too, stop.” So they went up to her. “Let’s stay here. Where are you going?” “I am going home.” “Your home is far.” “No, I shall be there soon.” “No, you will not get there. Let’s stay here. You may go tomorrow.” She said, “All right.” They stayed the night with her. Then next day, when they woke up, the girl was already dead and dirt was on her. They said to each other, “This is the one we killed yesterday. She followed us. Let’s take out her heart.” So they took out her heart and smashed it to pieces. “Now let’s go, she won’t bother us this time.” But after they had gone a little way, they looked back and saw her coming. “There she is coming again. Let’s run. She won’t catch us.” So they ran. When they had gone far, they looked back. She was behind close by them. “There she is coming. We didn’t leave her behind. What can we do? I wonder if there is anyone who could save us? She has died twice, but if she catches us, she will kill us.” When they came to Ship Rock, they said, “Our people have passed through here, maybe some of them living here could save us.” At last they came to slnpapoli7na. The aihayuta never stopped to eat or drink, but the girl kept on chasing them. In shipapoli^na there was a Stone-knife society {achia tikyane) [or Ant society]. When they got there, they said, “That’s the place our people live. They will save us.” They said, “Our fathers, konato teane?” “Kyelsanishi” When they sat down they gave them to eat. They took the bread and dipped it in the stew and put it in their mouth only four times. Then they quit eating. When they finished eating, the two said, “Do you know any way to save us? Some one is chasing us.” “Yes,” said they, “you may sit down here.” They made them sit down. To each they gave a bow, the bow-string to be held away from them like ahe^iia as in the lewekwe dance. Thus they held the bow. They made them blacken their face. They sang the songs to save them. At the second song they turned the bows in back to themselves. When they finished that, they sang the song for them to get angry. As they began the chorus, she got there, and they heard her step on the roof. She said, “My fathers, my two sons, have they come?” “Yes, they are here.” “Send them out for me.” “They are here. Come in and take them out yourself,” said they to her. She stepped down one step and then she ran back. “Send them