N^TCr' ^^^^ ^^ CHANGING WOMAN — BASSO 127 



When, for one reason or another, a girl decides that she does not 

 want to have a dance, she makes her feelings known and, if she per- 

 sists, plans for na ih es are discontinued. The father of an unwilling 

 girl said: 



My daughter didn't want a dance. She said she was bashful and that her 

 friends would tease her. So my wife talked to her, but she didn't change her 

 mind. My wife and my wife's parents were sure mad. We never had the dance. 

 It wouldn't be good to make her have the dance if she didn't want it. 



It is not until the girl has her first period that actual preparations 

 are begun. With the girl's consent to participate willingly in na ih es, 

 enough money to finance a large portion of the expenses, and amicable 

 relations with relatives, the girl's parents embark on preliminaries. 



NDEH GUHYANEH 

 ('wise people') 



Immediately after a girl's first menstruation, her parents select a 

 group of older persons, called ndeh guhyaneh, with whom it is decided 

 when and where the dance will be held and, most important of all, 

 who will be the girl's na ihl esn ('she makes her ready,' 'she prepares 

 her'), or sponsor. Ndeh guhyaiieh usually consist of at least one set 

 of grandparents and other close blood kin; but it is by no means 

 uncommon for nonrelatives, respected for their age and familiarity 

 with ceremonial proceedings, to be chosen. Normally, there are from 

 five to eight ndeh guhyaneh, the parents of the pubescent girl included. 

 Said one man: 



When we have na ih es we had eight ndeh guhyaneh. There was my wife's 

 father and her oldest brother and my brother, too. We also asked PP [a medicine 

 man who does not know the songs for na ih es] and his wife to help us. We 

 asked him because he is old and his wife is a very good lady. He has seen lots 

 of na ih es, even though he doesn't do that [particular ceremony]. His wife 

 would know about who is good for na ihl esn. 



One man, usually a grandfather of the girl, is appointed head or 

 nan tan (literally 'chief,' but here meaning 'foreman' or 'boss') of 

 the proceedings; he is second in command to the girl's father. His 

 main functions are: (1) To supervise preparations for the dance, par- 

 ticularly those concerned with clearing the dance ground and erecting 

 temporary dwelHngs there; (2) to act as a speaker for the girl's family 

 in offering the role of na ihl esn to the woman nominated by the 

 ndeh guhyaneh; and (3) to give a speech before na ih es reminding 

 all present of the solemnity of the occasion and cautioning them to be 

 on their best behavior. 



The problem of selecting a good day on which to hold na ih es is 

 not a pressing one for the ndeh guhyaneh. Regardless of when the 



