134 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 184 
the plaza for the day. He also officiates at equestrian impersonation 
of saints, beating his drum for the dancing. There is only one kahera 
in Sia. He assumed the office of his own volition and upon accept- 
ance by the pueblo; he may have assumed this duty as a consequence 
of a vow, which is a common pueblo pattern. He serves for life. 
Antonio Gachupin was kahera in 1957 and had been since he quit 
school in 1923. 
One informant, and a good one ordinarily, said that the term 
kahera is not used at Sia, and that Antonio Gachupin, who is also one 
of the regular pueblo drummers, did not undertake the job of beating 
the church drum as a consequence of a vow: “‘he just beats it.”” But 
he, too, stated that Antonio, and he only, has been doing this for 
decades. 
The institution of kahera has received little attention by ethnog- 
raphers although it exists in all the Keresan villages, probably, 
and the kahera is fairly conspicuous when he does function. See 
“The Pueblo of Santa Ana” (White, 1942 a, p. 109) for a summary of 
what is known about him. 
DRUMMERS 
Drummers are functionaries, rather than officers, but, like the 
kahera, they may be dealt with here. Any man in Sia, no doubt, is 
capable of beating a drum to accompany a song. But from the 
standpoint of pueblo affairs, only certain men are official pueblo 
drummers. Others may be temporary drummers; but most men are 
not pueblo drummers at all. A person may, of his own will, ask to 
become a drummer, or his parents may “‘offer’’ him—as is the case in 
affiliation with a society, or clan adoption. In either case, the person 
who wishes to become a drummer or the parents who offer their 
son, must take prayer meal (petana) to the head of the drummers 
or to the head of the singers; Masewi would have to be consulted, 
also, and his approval obtained. Whether such requests can be, or 
ever are, refused, my notes do not say; but it is in the community’s 
interest to obtain the best of performers. On certain occasions the 
old men have some young men beat the drum in order to discover 
who has a natural aptitude for it. In addition to petition, the head 
of the drummers, together with the head of the singers, can appoint 
aman to serve as temporary pueblo drummer. 
In 1941 there was only one permanent pueblo drummer: Jose Vigil 
Medina, born in 1893; he is said to be a performer of extraordinary 
ability. He was chosen by the singers. He was assisted by two tem- 
porary drummers. In 1957 there were five drummers of whom Jose 
Vigil Medina was the head; whether the other four were permanent 
or temporary my notes do not specify. 
A drummer is called Gaoctyuwits; plural, Gowactyuwits. 
