No.'^Ter' ^^^^ ^^ CHANGING WOMAN — BASSO 163 



is made to understand that taboos will constitute a very significant, 

 trying, part of her life, and that any violation of them is a serious 

 matter. In explicit, although negative terms, she is told to fear the 

 supernatural. "Do not break taboos." 



PHYSICAL STRENGTH 



Since life in Cibecue makes heavy demands on women, it is essential 

 that the}^ be physically strong. Despite the harsh living conditions — 

 sickness, a poor diet, and insufficient protection from the cold — women 

 nevertheless fill the strenuous roles imposed on them by the native 

 economy. 



They do most of the work connected with agriculture: planting, 

 weeding, irrigating, and harvesting. They also attend to a variet}'- 

 of arduous household tasks: preparing huge quantities of food, 

 helping build wickiups and shades, collecting and chopping firewood, 

 and transporting food and water. Few families in Cibecue own 

 trucks (only one owns a car), and it is not at all unusual for a woman to 

 walk over 2 miles from her camp to the trading post and return, 

 often carrying 20 or 30 pounds of goods. Occasionally, though not 

 nea,rly as often as during prereservation days, women go on long 

 overland treks in search of wild plant foods such as mescal tubers, 

 pifion nuts, and acorns. Hard work is expected of all adult women. 

 Without the physical strength it requires, they place the survival of 

 themselves and their families in considerable jeopardy. 



A girl's economic education begins in childhood with a few easy 

 domestic chores. At the age of 5 or 6, she helps shuck corn and 

 carries an empty bottle to the trading post, receiving a few pennies 

 of deposit money in return. At 10 or 11, she is given instruction in 

 the techniques of agriculture, wild plant gathering, and wickiup 

 construction. Consequently, by the time she reaches puberty, a 

 girl is thoroughly acquainted with the duties that await her as an 

 adult. 



Na ih es symbolically awards her the qualities of physical strength 



and endurance she will need to fulfill these duties. In phase III, 



na ihl esn massages the girl's legs, back, and shoulders in order to 



make them strong. By running in the four directions during phase V, 



she acquires endurance. Throughout the entire ceremony, the eagle 



feathers on the shoulders of her buckskin serape invoke a lightness of 



foot. 



GOOD DISPOSITION 



Na ih es prepares the pubescent girl for life in society by symbolically 

 granting her that quality considered most necessary for the mainte- 

 nance of friendly relations with other people — a good disposition. 



