146 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 196 



downy eagle feather to each of its shoulders. This is done to enable 

 the girl to dance as hghtly as feathers fall to the ground. 



4. A large buckskin, the forward part of which is painted yellow, 

 to which an eagle feather is tied. Throughout na ih es the girl dances 

 on this buckskin. It is thought that by doing so she will never be 

 hungry; there will always be a plentiful supply of deer. 



NIL SLA IH KA 



('food, exchanged') 



Nil sla ih ka is a symbohc aflSrmation of the shi ti ke relationship 

 inaugurated at the very beginning of the na ih es proceedings (see pp. 

 132-133). As has been mentioned, it is an uncomplicated ritual in- 

 volving gifts of prepared food. On the day before na ih es, shortly 

 after the termination of gish ih zha ha aldeh, na ihl esn and her rela- 

 tives bring their gift to the pubescent girl's camp. On the next day, 

 the girl' skin reciprocate. ^° The same procedure is followed by both 

 camps. 



Carrying cans or pots filled with tuhpay, coffee, tortillas, beef, 

 corn, and potatoes, 20 or 25 members of a camp line up two abreast 

 and walk across the dance ground led by two men beating drums. 

 There is no singing. When the procession reaches the other camp, 

 it is greeted by the mother or father of the pubescent girl (if na ihl 

 esn is giving the feast) ^^ or na ihl esn (if the girl's relatives are the 

 first to make the exchange). After the food is deposited, the men 

 with the drums begin to sing, and five or six of the girl's close relatives 

 (always including her mother and father) dance with na ihl esn, her 

 husband, and a few of their close kin. Similar to the dancing at 

 bi goh ji tal, it lasts for 12 to 16 songs, after which the persons who 

 brought the food return to their camp, leaving the recipients to eat 

 by themselves. The pubescent girl, although always present, takes 

 no defined part in the nil sla ih ka proceedings. 



The presentation of food at nil sla ih ka is witnessed by all the 

 members of both camps and excites much comment. A great deal 

 of importance is attached to the size of the gifts. A large amount 

 of food, which provides for seconds and thu'ds, is taken as a clear 

 indication of wealth, and results in increased prestige for the donors. 

 A large feast is also a sign that clan relatives have been generous 

 which, in turn, indicates that the clan members have been willing 



a> I have witnessed one nil sla ih ka at which this pattern was reversed; the girl's camp gave the first feast 

 and na ihl em gave the second. Wlien questioned, Informants expressed a definite dislike for this procedure 

 hut added, "it didn't really matter," so long as the camp that gave the first feast received one In return 

 the following day. 



>« These gifts of food, among the Clbecue Apaches, are called "feasts." 



