WHITE] CEREMONIES AND CEREMONIALISM 67 



Hunting gods. — We have already seen that the sun is called upon 

 at rabbit hunts, but the huntuig deity par excellence is the cougar, 

 or moiintain hon. Formerly there was a himters' society called 

 the Caiyailv. They were medicine men of the himt. It was their 

 business to supply himting medicines to huxiters and to assist in 

 commimal himts. Theii' patron spirit was the mountaui lion, and 

 they possessed a little stone figure of this animal. (See Caiyaik.) 



Medicine gods. — (The gods who possessed the power to cm-e disease 

 will be discussed imder The Medicine Cult.) 



San Estevan. — St. Stephen is the patron saint of Acoma. His day, 

 September 2, is observed at Acoma, with services in the old Spanish 

 church and with a com dance in the plaza. (See The Fiesta of San 

 Estevan.) He is regarded as having some power and is disposed to 

 help the Acoma people. 



Yoshthi {Dios, God). — The Cliristian God is also regarded as a 

 supernatural, and hence has some power; but he does not have as 

 large a following as San Estevan, who has a pecuUar obligation to 

 Acoma. He is not regarded, in general, as having very much power, 

 and he is not particularly well disposed to the people. It is said that 

 he pmiishes some people after death; none of the native deities do 

 this. Sometimes prayer sticks are offered to God, but they are 

 always accompanied by sticks for latik". 



Crista {Christ). — He is regarded as a supernatural, but not primarily 

 for the Indians. He has very little following. 



Ceremonial Calendar ^^ 



The following is a list of ceremonial observances at Acoma during 

 the year, with the dates (approximately) for each: 



December 24. Christmas Eve, ceremony in church. 



December 25, 26, 27. Miscellaneous dances. 



December 28. Elections annoimced. 



January (?). Installation of war chief. (See this section for details 

 of procedure and the year's program.) 



January (?). Scalp dance, k'atseta, for the incoming officers. 



Jmie 20—21. Sununer solstice, dioya'micoko. 



Jime 24. San Juan's Day, rooster pull. 



June 29. San Pedro's Day, rooster pull. 



July 12-14. Natyati, the summer masked dance. 



Jul J' 24. Rooster puU. 



July 25. San Diego's Day, com dance. 



August 10. San Lorenzo's Day, com dance at Acomita. 



September 2. San Estevan 's Day, fiesta at old Acoma. 



September 20 (cir.). Fall masked dance. 



December 21. Winter solstice, k'oa'micoko. 



" See Doctor Parsons's detailed calendar for Zufti, Notes on Zufli, pt, i, pp. 151-182. 



