ROBBiNS, HARRINGTON, -| ETHNOBOTANY OF THE TEWA INDIANS 97 



FUEIRK-MARHECO J 



At Hano, where the nainhig customs have approximated to those 

 of the Hopi, the rite requires the use of yucca suds, corn-meal, and 

 two ears of corn, one a tufted white ear called jyosete^ the other a pink 



or a red ear. 



Trade in Corn 



As long as buffalo were obtainable on tlie plains, the Tewa carried 

 on a considerable trade with the Comanche, bartering corn, corn- 

 meal, and wheat bread for prepared buffalo hides. Sometimes the 

 Tewa visited the Comanche country, sometimes the Comanche 

 brought hides to Santa Clara, which thus became a depot for the trade 

 in woolen goods and buffalo hides between the Hopi and the Co- 

 manche. With the disappearance of the buffalo this intercourse 



ceased. 



Tallies 



It is said that at one time, probably between 1879 and 1894, the 

 Santa Clara men used to elect the gobernador by ballot, using grains 

 of corn or beans. Maize kernels or beans are used as counters in 



the game of cafiute.^ 



Medicinal Uses of Corn 



At Santa Clara the following remed}^ is used for swollen glands, 

 ssegohe, in the neck: An ear of corn, Vo^ie, is laid on the warm hearth 

 near the fire, and the patient is told to set his foot on it and rub it to 

 and fro — 7iqlc ode'qnfsaM , 'rub the ear of corn with your foot' {na 

 you 1 it!; Tco-ie^ ear of corn; 'c/y, foot; tsaM^ to rub). In two or 

 three days' time the swellings will subside. The treatment is suitable 

 for a child of ten years or so, not for a baby. 



Blue corn-meal mixed with water is given at Santa Clara for pijjiu., 

 'heart-sickness,' 'palpitations, pains near the heart or diaphragm' 

 (jny, heart; Ke^ sickness, to be sick). 



At San Ildefonso corn-pollen, li.(ltu (Jcq,^ corn-tassel; tu^ kernel) was 

 especially recommended for palpitation of the heart. 



Black corn with a slight streaking of red, li'nmp'e^nyj or {pij^'e'fiiij, 

 New Mexican Spanish inats Icqfetao)^ is good for a woman at her 

 periods. Some women take corn-smut, sxpe^ie, as a remed}^ for 

 irregular menstruation. 



Pantomime of Corn-growing 



Some dancers — for example the clowns, kosa, at San Ildefonso — use 

 interesting ritual gestures which portray the growth of corn. The 

 performer looks up at the sky, shading his eyes with one hand; this 

 means, "I see clouds coming." He makes motions as if drawing the 



iSee Harrington, The Tewa Indian game of Canute, Amer. Anthr., xiv, p. 254, 1912. 



