Na^Ter* ^^^' ^^^^ ^^ CHANGING WOMAN — BASSO 133 



na ihl esn for that man's daughter gave him some money to help bail the boy out 

 of jail. 



Once a woman has agreed to be na ihl esn, she prepares for na ih es 

 in much the same way as the girl's parents, relying heavily on the 

 support of close kin. Since na ihl esn need not concern herself with 

 the preparation of the dance ground, her major task is to procure 

 enough food to feed her relatives during the ceremonial proceedings, 

 and to give the girl's relatives a large feast on the day before na ih es. 



NA E TLANH 

 ('have drinking,' or 'goes before drinking') 



About a month prior to na ih es, the gu-l's family, also concerned 

 about an adequate food supply, hold na e tlanh. This is an informal 

 affair at which the girl's family presents clan relatives (and relatives 

 of related clans) with tulipay, in return for which the latter promise 

 to contribute meat or groceries (fig. 2). A clan member need not 

 state precisely what he will contribute, or even how much, but it is 

 understood that in accepting the tuHpay he obligates himself to 

 reciprocate with a fairly substantial gift. 



Usually, na e tlanh is held at midday at the girl's camp. Inside a 

 shade, ^^ gallon cans filled with tulipay are set out in rows. When 

 enough relatives have arrived, the girl's father stands up and starts 

 the proceedings with a short speech, an example of which follows: 



I appreciate your coming here at this time. 1 asked you all to come over 

 for drinks so you would help us out by buying groceries. You were not forced 

 to come, you were invited. You came of your own accord, because you wanted to 

 help out in the dance. It has always been done this way — helping each other 

 out for the dance, we relatives. 



After this, the tulipay is distributed, and the rest of the afternoon 

 is spent drinking it and talking about the forthcoming dance. ^^ 



Thus, having enlisted a medicine man, appointed a na ihl esn, 

 inaugurated the shi ti ke relationship, and assured themselves of the 

 support of relatives, the girl's family turns its attention to preparing 

 the dance ground. 



PREPARATIONS 



Apaches attach a great deal of importance to ceremonial prep- 

 arations, and negligence in carrying them out is sternly rebuked. 

 To a large extent, the effectiveness of a ritual is thought to be de- 

 pendent on its being flawlessly performed, in precise coincidence with 

 its estabUshed pattern. Anything which disturbs or alters this pattern 



1^ Shades, in which the women do most of their work, are larpe rectangular structures, made from cedar 

 posts and cottonwood boughs. They closely resemble Spanish ramadas. 

 ** Nae tlanh Is a wonderful excuse for the men to get drunk, and they almost always take advantage of It, 



