This paper is the result of two and one-half months’ field work among the
Washo Indians of California and Nevada supported by the Department of
Anthropology of the University of California and the Woodrow Wilson
Foundation. In it I have tried to describe the religious beliefs and
ritual activities of the Washo as they can be examined today. Where
possible I have attempted to reconstruct the aboriginal patterns and trace
the course of change between these two points in time.
A second purpose has been to supplement the culture element distribution
lists prepared by Omer C. Stewart in 1936 (Stewart 1941). In a number of
instances his findings were at variance with those of Smith, whose notes
Stewart incorporated; I have been able to resolve some of the differences
between Stewart and Smith. Where my own research has led me to disagree
with the statements in the culture element distributions I have discussed
the problem. In general my own work simply expands the rather sparse
descriptions of the element lists (Stewart 1941, pp. 366-418). The culture
element distribution list numbers which refer to traits dealt with in the
various sections are indicated in parentheses following the headings.
Where a trait or complex is dealt with in detail it is indicated by
parentheses in the text. Statements not otherwise attributed are the
result of my own field work.
I am indebted to Mr. W. L. d’Azevedo, who encouraged me to carry on field
work among the Washo and who has made his own field notes and knowledge
available to me. I have indicated information attributable to d’Azevedo by
placing his name in parentheses in the text; where his name appears with a
date, the reference is to a work published by him.
I also wish to express my thanks for the suggestions made by J. H. Rowe,
R. F. Millon, and D. M. Schneider, who read this article before it went to
press, and to acknowledge the final reading given the manuscript by the
late A. L. Kroeber.
In addition, my thanks are owed to Mr. Frank Yapparagari, Mrs. Juanita
Schubert, and Mrs. Lois Buck of Gardnerville and Minden, Nevada, to Mr.
Richard Shulter of the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, Nevada, and to
Mrs. E. M. Keenan of Paradise, California, who assisted in various ways in
the progress of the investigation. Last, to the various members of the
Washo tribe, who with patience and good humor bore the probing into their
lives, my deepest gratitude.