Anthrop. pap. 

 No. 76] 



GIFT OF CHANGING WOMAN — BASSO 



131 



Figure 1. — Clan relationships. The pubescent girl's clan (and her mother's 

 clan) is Clan A, which is related to Clans B-F. Clans A-F make up the 

 girl's clan set. The girl's father's clan is Clan G which is related to Clans 

 H-M. Clans G-M make up his clan set. Na ihl esn must come from a clan 

 which is not related to any of the clans in these two clan sets. 



could not come. The woman selected was from ci tc iltco sik a dn 

 (*Gambel's-oak-standing people') . 



Once the ndeh guhyaneh have singled out all the women in the 

 community who are eligible (by clan) for the position of na ihl esn, 

 they make their final decision on the basis of character and wealth. 

 Apaches say that character is the most important, but I recall one case 

 where it was freely admitted that the na ihl esn was a "bad person." 

 She had been chosen, I was told, because she was rich enough to afford 

 the expenses entailed. In all other instances, however, the na ihl esn 

 was a woman of highly esteemed reputation. The following state- 

 ments indicate the qualities on which such reputations are commonly 

 based. 



