tribe, here recorded, was given by Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ, a member of the
Ba´-po subgens of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens. The name Ba´-po
(Popper in English), Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ explained, is the name of the
elder tree, the trunk of which boys, from time reaching beyond memory,
used for making poppers. The name refers to a mythical story and to a
ceremonial office. The mythical story is as follows: When the people of
the Ṭsi´-zhu great division descended from the sky to make the earth
their home they came down as eagles, and they alighted on a great red
oak tree. The shock of their alighting caused the acorns to drop from
the tree in great profusion, which was taken as a prophecy that the
Ṭsi´-zhu would become a numerous people. One eagle was crowded off the
tree, but as he dropped down he alighted upon a blossoming elder tree.
This eagle was a peace bird and his alighting on the ba´-po tree made
it to become a peace symbol. The Ba´-po subgens was given the office of
furnishing a pipestem for the peace pipe in the keeping of the Ṭsi´-zhu
Wa-shta-ge gens, and the Ba´-po made the stem of an elder sapling a
symbol of peace.
When Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ is called by a member of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge
gens to act as Xo´-ḳa (instructor) in the ceremonial naming of his
child he goes to the house of the father without any formality. Usually
the call is made when the sun is traveling downward (afternoon); when
he receives the message he promptly responds to the call. On his
arrival at the house the father, in a formal speech, informs him that
his summons was for the purpose of asking him to conduct the ceremonies
to be performed at the naming of his child. When Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ gives
his consent to officiate at the ceremony the fees for the men who are
to take part are placed before him. These he examines to make sure that
there are enough articles to go around, and to see if the man had also
provided a pipe for the Sho´-ḳa or Official Messenger.
CERTAIN GENTES CALLED TO TAKE PART IN THE CEREMONY
Being satisfied that the man had supplied all the necessary articles,
he places in the hands of the father the ceremonial pipe and bids
him go after the Sho´-ḳa of the gens. The father returns with the
messenger who was already invested with the little pipe, the badge of
his authority. When the two men had taken their seats Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ
directs the Sho´-ḳa to go and call the heads of the following gentes,
with their Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga members, to come to the house of the
father, at sunrise the next morning, to take part in the ceremonies of
naming his child:
1. Wa´-ṭse-ṭsi, of the Wa-zha´-zhe subdivision, to recite their
wi´-gi-e relating to their life symbol, the red cedar. (36th Ann. Rept.
Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 95, lines 1 to 34.)
2. Noⁿ´-poⁿ-da, Deer gens, of the Wa-zha´-zhe subdivision, to recite
their wi´-gi-e relating to one of their life symbols, the water. (36th
Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 98, lines 1 to 25.)
3. I´-ba-ṭse Ṭa-dse, Wind People, of the Hoⁿ´-ga subdivision, to recite
their wi´-gi-e relating to one of their life symbols, the maize.
4. Tho´-xe, Buffalo-bull gens of the Ṭsi-zhu great division, to recite
their wi´-gi-e relating to the maize. Tho´-xe is the gens that gave
to the people the maize and the squashes. (36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer.
Ethn., p. 279, lines 54 to 110.) The Tho´-xe authorized the I´-ba-ṭse
and certain other gentes to use the Maize ritual in their child-naming
ceremonies.
5. Çiⁿ´-dse-a-gthe, Wolf gens of the Ṭsi´-zhu great division, to recite
their wi´-gi-e relating to their life symbol, the sun. The Dog-star is
also one of their life symbols. (36th Ann. Rept. Bur. Amer. Ethn., p.
118, lines 1 to 36.)
WA-ZHO´-I-GA-THE (LIFE SYMBOL) WI´-GI-E
The Sho´-ḳa returns to the house of the father and reports that he
has given notice to all the gentes named to attend the ceremony. Then
Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ proceeds to recite the Wa-zho´-i-ga-the Wi´-gi-e of his
gens, a name which means, The Taking of Bodies; that is, The Taking of
Life Symbols. The reciting of this wi´-gi-e is for the benefit of the
father and the child.
THE TAKING OF LIFE SYMBOLS.
FREE TRANSLATION
1
1. The people spake to one another, saying: Lo, the little ones
have nothing of which to make their bodies,
2. Take heed, O, younger brothers, and see what can be done.
3. Then to the youngest of the brothers they spake, saying:
4. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies, O,
younger brother.
5. Hardly were these words spoken,
6. When the young messenger stood before the God of Day (the sun),
to whom he spake, saying:
7. O, my grandfather!
8. The God of Day replied: My grandchild!
9. The messenger spake: The little ones have nothing of which to
make their bodies, O, grandfather.
10. The God of Day spake: I am a person of whom the little ones
may well make their bodies,
11. I am a god who has power to resist death.
12. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
13. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the
path of life.
14. Even among the gods,
15. There is not one who is able to see my path.
16. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
17. Even the gods
18. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path of
life.
2
19. Again the people spake, saying: O, younger brothers,
20. Take heed and see what can be done,
21. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
22. They spake to the youngest of the brothers, saying:
23. O, younger brother,
24. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
25. Take heed and see what can be done.
26. Hardly were these words spoken
27. When the young messenger stood before the Goddess of Night
(the moon),
28. To whom he spake, saying: O, my grandmother!
29. The Goddess of Night replied: My grandchild!
30. The messenger spake: The little ones have nothing of which to
make their bodies.
31. Then spake the Goddess of Night: I am a person of whom the
little ones may well make their bodies,
32. I am a goddess who has power to resist death.
33. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
34. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the
path of life.
35. Even among the gods
36. There is not one who is able to see my path.
37. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
38. Even the gods
39. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path
of life.
40. Even among the gods
41. There is not one of them who can stand in my way to prevent my
going.
42. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
43. Even the gods
44. Shall not be able to stand in their way, as they travel the
path of life.
45. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
46. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
47. They also shall bring themselves to see old age, as they travel
the path of life.
48. I have brought myself to the days that are calm and peaceful.
49. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
50. They also shall bring themselves to the calm and peaceful days,
as they travel the path of life.
3
51. Again the people spake, saying: Lo, the little ones have
nothing of which to make their bodies,
52. Take heed and see what can be done, O, younger brothers.
53. Then they spake to the youngest of the brothers,
54. Saying: O, younger brother!
55. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
56. Take heed and see what can be done.
57. Even as these words were being spoken,
58. He stood before the Male Star (Morning Star) who sitteth in the
heavens,
59. And spake to him, saying: O, grandfather!
60. The Male Star replied: My grandchild!
61. The messenger spake: The little ones have nothing of which to
make their bodies.
62. The Male Star replied: I am a person of whom the little ones
may well make their bodies.
63. I am a god who has power to resist death.
64. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
65. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the
path of life.
66. Even among the gods
67. There is not one who is able to see my path.
68. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
69. Even the gods
70. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path
of life.
71. Even among the gods
72. There is not one who can stand in my way to prevent my going,
73. When the little ones make of me their bodies.
74. Even the gods
75. Shall not be able to stand in their way to prevent their going.
76. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
77. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
78. They also shall be able to bring themselves to see old age, as
they travel the path of life.
79. They shall also live to see the days that are calm and peaceful.
80. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
81. They shall be able to bring themselves to the calm and peaceful
days, as they travel the path of life.
4
82. The people spake, saying: O, younger brothers,
83. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
84. Take heed and see what can be done.
85. Then they spake to the youngest of the brothers,
86. Saying: O, younger brother,
87. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
88. Take heed and see what can be done.
89. Even as these words were being spoken,
90. The messenger stood before the Female Star (Evening Star) who
sitteth in the heavens,
91. And spake to her, saying: O, my grandmother!
92. The Female Star replied: My grandchild!
93. The messenger spake: The little ones have nothing of which to
make their bodies.
94. The Female Star replied: I am a person of whom the little ones
may well make their bodies.
95. I am a god who has power to resist death.
96. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
97. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the
path of life.
98. Even among the gods
99. There is not one who can stand in my way to prevent my going.
100. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
101. Even the gods
102. Shall not be able to stand in their way to stop their going.
103. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
104. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
105. They also shall be able to bring themselves to see old age, as
they travel the path of life.
106. I have been able to bring myself to the calm and peaceful days.
107. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
108. They also shall be able to bring themselves to the calm and
peaceful days, as they travel the path of life.
5
109. The people spake, saying: O, younger brothers,
110. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
111. Then to the youngest of the brothers
112. They spake, saying: O, younger brother,
113. Take heed and see what can be done.
114. Even as these words were being spoken,
115. The messenger stood before the Litter (Ursa Major), who stands
in the heavens,
116. To whom he spake, saying, O, grandfather!
117. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
118. The Litter replied: I am a person of whom the little ones may
well make their bodies.
119. I am a god who has power to resist death.
120. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
121. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the
path of life.
122. Even among the gods
123. There is not one who is able to see my path.
124. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
125. Even the gods
126. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path
of life.
127. Even among the gods
128. There is not one who can stand in my way to prevent my going.
129. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
130. Even the gods
131. Shall not be able to stand in their way to prevent their going.
132. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
133. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
134. They also shall be able to bring themselves to see old age.
135. I have been able to bring myself to the calm and peaceful days.
136. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
137. They also shall be able to bring themselves to the calm and
peaceful days, as they travel the path of life.
6
138. The people spake, saying: The little ones have nothing of
which to make their bodies,
139. Give heed, younger brothers, and see what can be done.
140. Then to the youngest of the brothers,
141. They spake, saying: O, younger brother,
142. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
143. Even as these words were being spoken,
144. The messenger stood before Deer-head (Pleiades), who sitteth
in the heavens,
145. To whom he spake, saying: O, my grandmother!
146. She replied: My grandchild!
147. The messenger spake: The little ones have nothing of which to
make their bodies.
148. Deer-head replied: I am a person of whom the little ones may
well make their bodies,
149. I am a god who has power to resist death.
150. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
151. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the
path of life.
152. Even among the gods
153. There is not one who is able to see my path.
154. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
155. Even the gods
156. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path
of life.
157. Even among the gods
158. There is not one who can stand in my way to prevent my going.
159. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
160. Even the gods
161. Shall not be able to stand in their way to prevent their going.
162. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
163. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
164. They also shall be able to bring themselves to see old age.
165. I have been able to bring myself to the calm and peaceful days.
166. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
167. They also shall be able to bring themselves to the calm and
peaceful days, as they travel the path of life.
7
168. The people spake, saying: The little ones have nothing of which
to make their bodies,
169. Give heed, O, younger brothers, and see what can be done.
170. Then to the youngest of the brothers,
171. They spake, saying: O, younger brother,
172. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
173. Take heed and see what can be done.
174. Even as these words were being spoken,
175. The messenger stood before Three-deer (Orion’s belt), who
stands in the heavens,
176. To whom he spake, saying: O, grandfather!
177. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
178. Three-deer replied: I am a person of whom the little ones may
well make their bodies,
179. I am a god who has power to resist death.
180. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
181. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the
path of life.
182. Even among the gods
183. There is not one who is able to see my path.
184. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
185. Even the gods
186. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path
of life.
187. Even among the gods
188. There is not one who can stand in my way to prevent my going.
189. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
190. Even the gods
191. Shall not be able to stand in their way to prevent their going.
192. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
193. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
194. They also shall have the power to bring themselves to see old
age.
195. I have been able to bring myself to the calm and peaceful days.
196. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
197. They also shall be able to bring themselves to the calm and
peaceful days, as they travel the path of life.
8
198. The people spake, saying: The little ones have nothing of which
to make their bodies, O, younger brothers,
199. Take heed and see what can be done.
200. Then to the youngest of the brothers
201. They spake, saying: O, younger brother,
202. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
203. Take heed and see what can be done.
204. Even as these words were being spoken,
205. The messenger stood before Double-star (Theta and Iota in
Orion) who sitteth in the heavens,
206. To whom he spake, saying: O, grandmother!
207. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
208. Double-star replied: I am a person of whom the little ones may
well make their bodies.
209. I am a god who has power to resist death.
210. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
211. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the
path of life.
212. Even among the gods
213. There is not one who is able to see my path.
214. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
215. Even the gods
216. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path
of life.
217. Even among the gods
218. There is not one who can stand in my way to prevent my going.
219. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
220. Even the gods
221. Shall not be able to stand in their way to prevent their going.
222. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
223. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
224. They also shall be able to bring themselves to see old age.
225. I have been able to bring myself to the calm and peaceful days.
226. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
227. They also shall be able to bring themselves to the calm and
peaceful days, as they travel the path of life.
At the close of the wi´-gi-e Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ and the Sho´-ḳa are
invited by the family to join them in the evening meal, after which the
two men go home.
THE XO´-ḲA CEREMONIALLY CONDUCTED TO THE CHILD’S HOUSE
Before sunrise the next morning the Sho´-ḳa, carrying his little pipe,
the badge of his office, goes to Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ’s house to conduct
him to the house of the child to be named. Upon receiving the formal
message from the Sho´-ḳa, Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ takes his paint pouch from
a bag containing his personal belongings and puts some red paint on
the inner surface of his hands. Then as the eastern clouds take from
the rising sun a crimson tinge, he lifts his hands, palms outward,
toward them and the sun itself. After a silent pause he withdraws his
hands and reddens his face with the paint on them, as though with
the color of the sun, and his messengers, the reddened clouds. When
he has put upon his face the sacred color he takes from a package
in which he keeps his ornamental feathers a red downy eagle feather
which he fastens to his scalplock so that the red feather, the life
symbol of his gens, stands firm and upright. In the days when buffalo
were plentiful the Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga who is to act as Xo´-ḳa at the
child-naming ceremony wore a buffalo robe with the hair outside, but
since the extinction of that animal he substituted for the robe a woven
blanket obtained from traders.
Having thus decorated himself with red paint and the red feather,
symbols of the sky, and the substitute of the buffalo robe, an earth
symbol, Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ, now actual Xo´-ḳa, goes forth to the house of
the child to be named, following the Sho´-ḳa, who leads the way. It was
explained by the old man that the manner of approach of his gens, the
Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge, to the house of the child was very simple, that it
did not have the elaborate ceremonial forms described by Wa-xthi´-zhi
that were followed by his gens, the Puma, and the other war gentes of
the Hoⁿ´-ga great division.
Arriving at the house, the Sho´-ḳa enters without pause and leads the
Xo´-ḳa to his place at the left of the father, who sits with his wife
and child at the east end of the house. When the Xo´-ḳa has taken his
seat the Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga of his gens, the Ṭsi-zhu Wa-shta-ge, enter
and take their places back of the Xo´-ḳa and the parents and sit in a
row occupying the entire width of the house. Then the Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga
of the other gentes who are to take part in the ceremony enter, those
of the Hoⁿ´-ga great division taking their accustomed places at the
south side and those of the Ṭsi´-zhu great division at the north side
of the house. (Fig. 1.) Except for the blankets of various colors, the
Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga were decorated alike, their faces painted red, the
color of the sun and the dawn, and a red downy feather fastened to the
scalplock of each one.
A LIFE SYMBOL SENT TO EACH OF THE OFFICIATING GENTES
When all the Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga had settled down in their places, and had
exchanged with each other the usual social greetings, Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ
opens the proceedings with a formal statement, setting forth the
purpose of the gathering and adding some pertinent remarks concerning
the ancient rite of naming the children and their formal recognition as
members of the tribe. He then goes on to the ceremony of distributing
the fees and the symbolic articles to be used in the rite. The
distribution was made in the following order:
1. To the Wa´-ṭse-ṭsi, Star gens of the Wa-zha´-zhe subdivision of the
Hoⁿ´-ga great division, he sent, by the Sho´-ḳa, cedar fronds with fee.
The cedar is a life symbol of the Wa´-ṭse-ṭsi gens.
2. To the Tho´-xe, Buffalo-bull gens, of the Ṭsi´-zhu great division, a
bowl of shelled corn with fee. The maize is one of the life symbols of
the Tho´-xe.
3. To the Noⁿ´-poⁿ-da, Deer gens of the Wa-zha´-zhe subdivision of the
Hoⁿ´-ga great division, a bowl of water with fee. Water is one of the
life symbols of the Noⁿ´-poⁿ-da.
4. To the Çiⁿ´-dse-a-gthe, Wolf-tail gens, of the Ṭsi´-zhu great
division, fee only. The sun is one of the life symbols of this gens.
The Dog-star is also one of its symbols.
5. I´-ba-ṭse Ṭa-dse, Wind gens of the Hoⁿ´-ga subdivision of the
Hoⁿ´-ga great division, a bowl of shelled corn. The Tho´-xe authorized
the I´-ba-ṭse to use the maize ritual. This gens also has the office
of performing the ceremonies by which the souls of warriors slain in
battle are sent direct to the spirit land.
MEMBERS OF THE OFFICIATING GENTES RECITE THEIR WI´-GI-ES
SIMULTANEOUSLY
When the Sho´-ḳa, the Ceremonial Messenger, had made the last delivery
of the symbolic articles and fees to the gentes above named, each
Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga begins to recite the wi´-gi-e of his gens relating to
its life symbol, such as the cedar fronds, the corn or water. As each
Noⁿ´-hoⁿ-zhiⁿ-ga recites the wi´-gi-e of his gens, old Shoⁿ´-ge-moⁿ-iⁿ
recites the Name Wi´-gi-e of his own gens, the Ṭsi-zhu Wa-shta-ge,
which is as follows:
THE NAME WI´-GI-E
FREE TRANSLATION
1
1. The people spake to one another, saying: O, younger brothers,
2. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
3. Take heed and see what can be done.
4. Then to the youngest of the brothers they spake,
5. Saying: O, younger brother,
6. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
7. You will give heed and see what can be done.
8. Even as these words were being spoken
9. To the first division of heaven,
10. The messenger verily descended,
11. Where the little ones had not yet become a people.
2
12. Again the people spake, saying: O, younger brothers,
13. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
14. Take heed and see what can be done.
15. Then to the youngest of the brothers they spake,
16. Saying: O, younger brother,
17. You will give heed and see what can be done.
18. To the second division of heaven the messenger descended,
19. When he cried out:
20. It can not be, it is impossible:
21. The little ones have not yet become a people.
3
22. Again the people spake, saying: O, younger brothers,
23. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
24. Take heed and see what can be done.
25. Then to the youngest of the brothers they spake,
26. Saying: O, younger brother,
27. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
28. You will give heed and see what can be done.
29. Even as these words were being spoken,
30. The messenger descended to the third division of heaven,
31. Where the little ones had not yet become a people.
4
32. Verily, at that time and place,
33. The people spake, saying: O, younger brothers, the little ones
have nothing of which to make their bodies,
34. Take heed and see what can be done.
35. Then to the youngest of the brothers they spake,
36. Saying: O, younger brother,
37. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
38. You will give heed and see what can be done.
39. Even as these words were being spoken,
40. The messenger descended to the fourth division of heaven,
41. Where lay the bird (the female eagle) that has no stains (evil
disposition).
42. Verily, a person who is ever present upon her nest.
43. Upon the center of the earth, that sat in all her greatness,[2]
44. There stood a person (the male eagle).
45. From him we shall take the name, Moⁿ-zhoⁿ´, Earth,
46. Verily, he is a person who travels far and wide, above the
earth.
47. We shall take from him the name, Moⁿ-zhoⁿ´-ga-shoⁿ,
Travels-above-the-earth.
48. Verily, he is a person whose home is upon the center of the
earth.
49. We will take from him the name, Moⁿ-zhoⁿ´-u-çkoⁿ-çka,
Center-of-the-earth.
[2] The words of this line are figurative and mean the earth when she
displays her greatness by her blossoming flowers and her ripening fruit.
5
50. The little ones are now a people.
51. We shall also take the name, Xi-tha´-da-wiⁿ, Good-eagle-woman,
52. Also the name, Hiⁿ´-i-ḳiⁿ-da-bi, Feathers-fought-over,
53. Hiⁿ´-ga-moⁿ-ge, Feathers-scattered-by-the-winds, shall also be
our name,
54. As also, Noⁿ-be´-çi, Yellow-hands.
55. And Wa-zhiⁿ´-ga-hiⁿ, Feathers-of-the-bird, shall be our name.
6