The present article is the fifth of a series published in the
annual reports of the Smithsonian Institution on the composition of
Hopi worship. The Hopi, the name meaning peaceful, belong to the
Pueblo stock and are agricultural Indians. They are descendants of
the Arizona cliff dwellers and have preserved to the present many
survivals of their ancient worship. The object of the series of five
papers above referred to is to record a few of their rites in sun,
fire, and ancestor ceremonies that have survived to the present time.
The Pueblos performed their secret ceremonies in subterranean rooms
called kivas that were entered from the roof.
It is customary for the priest in the course of the ceremonies to
erect an altar, so called, on which is placed their _tiponi_, or
sacred badge of office, surrounded by various fetishes, idols, and
wooden objects bearing symbols. Here are placed all sacred objects
possessed by the fraternity of priests who celebrate the rite.
There are four Hopi villages or pueblos that perform the rituals
independently, the sacred paraphernalia differing in each. From a
study of these altars it is possible for us to learn the aim of their
various ceremonies. The present paper compares the four Katcina
altars for this purpose.
That element of pueblo worship known as the Katcina forms fully
one-half of the Hopi ritual, beginning with the arrival of the
Katcinas or masked dancers in January or February, and lasting until
their departure in July, inclusive. It is distinguished from other
components by the presence of masked participants called Katcinas,
supposed to be personators of the ancients, or “others.” The yearly
departure of these worthies from the villages is celebrated in July
by a great religious observance called the Niman or Farewell Katcina
ceremony; their arrival by several rites, one of the most striking
of which is called Powamu, or “Bean Planting.” At the times of their
arrival and departure there are erected in the kiva of each of the
four villages which celebrate them, the same altars, about which
certain secret rites are performed. Our knowledge thus far is limited
to four of the five Katcina altars,[1] and there still remains the
altar of Cuñopavi, regarding which nothing has yet been recorded.[2]
[Illustration: EXPLANATION OF PLATE 2—Katcina Altar at Oraibi
_a_, Tunwup, or Sun Katcina; _as_, Aspergill; _b_, Tcuelawu; _c_,
Corn mound; _co_, Cotokinungwu; _g_, Gourd; _h_, Planting stick;
_l_, Lightning symbols; _m_, Ears of maize; _mb_, Medicine bowl;
_p_, Prayer sticks; _ph_, God of war; _pm_, Prayer meal; _ps_,
Prayer sticks in basket; _pt_, Gourd (netted) for sacred water; _r_,
Rattles; _rc_, Rain _clouds_; _sc_, Sun emblems; _t_, Tiponi.]
[Illustration: