Zuni Fetiches Part 7

Again, certain minerals (Fig. 2), or fossils, etc. (Fig. 3), will be regarded as belonging to, or parts of, the G.o.ds, yet will be used as medicines of war or the chase, or by means of which water may be produced or crops stimulated, to say nothing of their efficacy as cures, or sources of strength, etc. For instance, Fig. 2 is of aragonite, hence referred to the Upper regions, and therefore valuable to give efficacy to the paint with which plume-sticks of rain prayers are decorated; while Fig. 3, from its shape, is supposed to represent the relic of the weapon or tooth of a G.o.d, and therefore endowed with the power of Sa-wa-ni-k'ia, and hence is preserved for generations--with an interminable variety of other things--in the Order of the Warriors, as the "protective medicine of war" (Shom-i-ta-k'ia). A little of it, rubbed on a stone and mixed with much water, is a powerful medicine for protection, with which the warrior fails not to anoint his whole body before entering battle.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 2.--Mineral fetich.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 3.--Fossil fetich.]

These amulets and implements of wors.h.i.+p are well ill.u.s.trated in the National Museum, and the subject merits extensive treatment. The facts connected with them will throw much light upon the mental characteristics and beliefs of the Zunis. At some future time I hope to set this matter forth more fully.

NOTE.--It is to be regretted that the haste in which this paper was prepared by the author, before his departure for New Mexico, to resume his researches among the Zunis, made it impossible for him to discuss further this interesting subject. The abundant material in his possession, gained from actual members.h.i.+p in the order or society under discussion, would have rendered this comparatively easy under other circ.u.mstances.--Ed.