1048 THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION [eth.akk.H 



THE PAIUTE, WASHO, AND PIT RIVEE TRIBES 



PAIUTE TRIBAL SYNONYMY 



Hogapa gonx — Shoshoni name, "rush arrow people " (hogap, a small water reed; piigd, 



" arrow "). 

 Niima — proper tribal name, signifying "people" or " Indians;" tlie same name is 



also used for themselves by the Shoshoni and Comanche. 

 Pai-yu'chimii — Hopi name. 

 Pai-yu'tsi — Navaho name. 

 I'hIii — Washo inline. 

 Paiute or Piute— popular name, variously rendered "true (paj) Ute " or " water (pit) 



Ute" — pronounced among themselves Paiuii. 



Note. — The northern bands of the Paiute are frequently included with Shoshoni 

 and others under the name of Snakes, while the others are often included with 

 various Californian tribes under the collective name of Diggers 



SKETCH OF THE PAIUTE 

 CHARACTERISTICS 



The Paiute belong to the great Shoshoneaii stock aud occupy most 

 of Nevada, together with adjacent portions of southwestern Utah, 

 northwestern Arizona, and northwestern and southeastern California. 

 The Pahvant and Gosiute on their eastern border are frequently, but 

 improperly, classed as Paiute, while the Cheruehuevi, associated with 

 the Walapai in Arizona, are but a southern offshoot of the Paiute and 

 speak the same language. With regard to the Indians of Walker 

 River and Pyramid Lake reservations, who constitute the main body 

 of those commonly known as Paiute, Powell claims that they are not 

 Paiute at all, but another tribe which he calls Paviotso. He says: 

 "The names by which the tribes are known to white men and the 

 department give no clue to the relationship of the Indians. For 

 example, the Indians in the vicinity of the reservation on the Muddy 

 and the Indians on the Walker River and Pyramid Lake reservations 

 are called Pai or Pah CJtes, but the Indians know only those on the 

 Muddy by that name, while those on the other two reservations are 

 known as Paviotsoes, and speak a very different language, but closely 

 allied to, if not identical with, that of the Bannocks." (Comr., /.">.) 

 The Ghost dance originated among these Indians in the neighborhood 

 of Walker river, from whom the songs here given were obtained, and 

 for convenience of reference we shall speak of them under their popular 

 title of Paiute, without asserting its correctness. 



The different small bands have little political coherence and there is 

 no recognized head chief. The most influential chiefs among them in 

 modern times have been Winneinucca, who died a few years ago, and 

 Natchez. Wovoka's leadership is spiritual, not political. The Indians 

 of Walker river and Pyramid lake claim the Bannock as their cousins, 



