Dec. 1901. The Oraibi Powamu Ceremony — Voth. 157 



tapwisui yukiqa shuchchawat wunuhkat ak paissok pas pai wuhtitokwantioni, 

 wuhtaktokwantioni. Pai pi okiwa. Nikang nu ka nala woinoma pai tompo 

 okioto koonak huwamu! 



Speech Made by the Powamu Priest in Every Participating Kiva When 

 He Leaves One of the Bahos Made and Consecrated in the 



PowALAwu Ceremony on the Previous Day.' 

 Owi, pas dnchaa yep ndtwan pas shuan passiohti.' Yan pam pdpu ka hihta 

 aonukpantiqoo; pas ocuwayuu» passiokahkangu omi kiikuiwaqoo; pdntakat ao 

 yan yokwaqoo put akv pumaa omi ndwungvni wishkdhkango, hingshakipwat 

 timkiomui passiokahkang omi ndwunjvnaya, ndtukvsinaya. Puu pdntakat ang- 

 yukuye. put akv yep mongwashyakahkango pas ndooynumyani, nonowakahkango. 

 Pai owi yan hdkam itam tondtyaokahkango/ pai hdhlaikahKango. ookdoKahiTango, 

 yahpi angk hoyoyoikuni shopkawat sinomu/ 



a free rendering of the above is as follows: 

 Yes, very truly (or all right), may the planting be well accomplished here. 

 May nothing (evil) endanger it. May the points come out well (or very, pas) 

 developed. And thus, it raining on them (the plants), may they grow upward, 

 and m a little while, the children (corn ears) being completed, grow upward (and) 

 Tipen (mature). And this being done (with the corn crop), subsisting (living) on 

 that here we shall dispense it (lay it out) and eat of it. 



Yes, therefore, following this (/. e., doing that way), being happy, being 

 strong, may approach (draw) from day to day nearer and nearer all the people 

 (/. e., toward) the consummation of the ceremony. 



1. This speech refers in the first place to the planting of beans which is to commence on 

 that day and to continue for four days, and for the success or blessing of which the baho is left in 

 the kiva But as this planting of beans is symbolical of the corn planting in spring, and the main 

 object of the Powamu ceremony is to consecrate the fields and evoke the blessing of the deities for 

 the approaching planting season and the coming crop, this speech refers in a wide sense also to the 

 latter. . 



2. The word Passionaya has various meanings, " to finish,'' " complete," •' bring to an end " 

 accomplish," etc., but also - to celebrate," - hold a ceremony," " worship •• (taking that word not 



in the sense of '• to pray," but in the wider sense of " to perform a religious rite "). Here evidently 

 the wish IS expressed that the bean planting in the kivas and the corn planting in the fields later 

 on might be brought to a happy conclusion. 



3- The word ocuwayuu, translated with " points," here refers to the terminations or ends of 

 ■the sprouting and growing beans and corn. My informant stated that the upper end of a feather 

 lor instance, would be called cu-wayuu, the point of my pen also. 



4- The word tonatyaokahkani has many different meanings, and repeated conversations 

 with different members of the various fraternities leave me still in the dark as to the exact meaning 

 in this closing sentence, which, it may be remarked, is a very common winding up of speeches and 

 prayers in nearly all ceremonies. The word may mean " to warn," " to take care of," " to follow" 

 or "carry out." 



5. The phrase (the consummation of the ceremony) is not used in the original, but when 

 asked what the people should draw nearer to or approach, the priests Jnvariablv sav, the last days 

 of the ceremony. In the wider sense in which this speech is made, probably the destinv of the 

 Hopi IS meant. 



It might be a proper question to ask why no mention is made in this speech of the beans to 

 be planted; or why, if this planting in the kivas is to be considered a symbol of the corn planting 

 of the Hopi. not corn is planted insteid of beans. The answers given me on this question are- 

 I. Corn IS planted by the Powamu chief, .Aototo and (I think) Aholi Katcinas. This is probably 

 considered to be sufficient for the symbolical purpose. 2. Because corn does not grow so well in 

 the kivas. 3. The bean plants can be used, eaten, at the feast on the last dav, and thus the great 

 purpose for which corn is raised be demonstrated, as it were. The corn thev could not eat, as it is 

 not palatable. 



