PARAPHERNALIA*® 
In describing ceremonies, reference has been made repeatedly to 
articles of paraphernalia. In most instances I have not paused to 
describe these items and to set forth the data I obtained concerning 
them. Instead, I am devoting this chapter exclusively to this subject. 
IARIKO: CORN-EAR FETISH 
Tariko (or Iatiku) is “the Mother of all the Indians” in Keresan 
mythology (Utctsiti, in our Sia origin myth, is equated with Iariko). 
This fetish consists of a decorated ear of corn; corn, it will be remem- 
bered (see p. 121), stands for Utctsiti (lariko), and it is commonly 
spoken of as yaya (mother). This is unquestionably one of the most 
important, if not the most important, fetish of the Keres; Stevenson 
(1894, p. 40) called it “the supreme idol” of the Sia. Stevenson has 
an account of the iariko, illustrated with an excellent colored picture 
of it (ibid., pl. ix). See also White (1942 a, pp. 339-340, and 
fig. 48) for an account and sketch of this fetish at Santa Ana. I 
have a few data to add to Stevenson’s account. 
The ear of corn used must be perfect, with straight rows, and 
fully kerneled to the tip. Feathers of the wren, especially, but also 
magpie, road runner, turkey, duck, or mocking bird—but specificaily 
not the owl, crow, blackbird, or flicker—are glued to the ear with 
honey of the bumblebee. The pith of the cob is removed from the 
butt end about halfway to the tip. Into this cavity the “heart” is 
inserted. This may be either asmallround black stone called Dyatca’- 
aicti or a bit of quartz crystal (witcatsi), usually the latter. I believe 
that songs and prayers must accompany the animation of the fetish, 
but no data were obtained on this point. 
Then a number of narrow strips of “bamboo” (Phragmites) are cut 
in lengths equal to the length of the corn ear. Each is wrapped with 
cotton string, and at the top end a fluffy eagle feather, taken from 
beneath the tail, is tied (fig. 46). These slats are then placed longi- 
tudinally alongside the ear of corn. They are securely held with a 
wooden hoop at the top and bottom of the ear (fig. 47; also pl. ix in 
Stevenson). Then parrot tail feathers are inserted in the top of the 
fetish, inside the circle of eagle feathers. The fetish has a ‘‘face”’ on 
one side of the tip end. At the back of the “head” two long parrot 
38 While the present study was in progress, I examined a considerable number of specimens in the collec- 
tions of the U.S. National Museum that had been obtained by the Stevensons in 1879 (see p. 1). Through the 
kindness of members of the Museum’s staff, I had a number of these specimens photographed, and their ma- 
terials identified except for the pump drill (pl. 9, 6). Since specimens of the material culture of the Keresan 
Pueblos are not very abundant in Museum collections, the photographs in plates 6 to 11, inclusive, make a 
significant contribution to the published record of Keresan Pueblo culture. 
307 
