white) ceremonies and ceremonialism 97 



The K'acale 



This society is the equivalent of the Rio Grande koshare. It is a 

 secret organization with clown and war functions. They are asso- 

 ciated with the Sim and with Paiyatyamo.*' Along the Rio Grande 

 (among the eastern Keres) this society is closely associated with the 

 Flint curing society; sometimes there is a close correspondence of 

 membership, but at Acoma these two societies are quite separate. 

 It is interesting to note, however, that at times of mitiation the 

 K'acale use the chambers of the Flint and Fire societies. The K'acale 

 appear at various dances, such as the September masked dance, at 

 the summer solstice sometunes, at natyati, etc. (The war chief de- 

 cides sometimes whether the K'acale shall come or not.) Then- di'ess 

 is lUve that of then- eastern coimterparts, body painted white with 

 black horizontal bands; black rmgs aroimd eyes and mouth; corn- 

 husk headdress; black brecchcloth; barefoot. They dance around 

 and in and out among the dancers. During natyati they lay a line 

 of ashes between the k'atsina dancers and the spectators; if anyone 

 should cross this line the K'acale seize liim and take him to Mauharots 

 where they make him dance K'acale. They often amuse the people, 

 too, saying and doing comical things. 



The relation between the K'acale and the opi will become manifest 

 in the followmg account of their collaboration with the o'pi in the 

 scalp dances. The K'acale headman tells the society that they belong 

 to the Masewi, and that they must help the opi. For a time, during 

 this ceremonj', the K'acale are in complete control of the pueblo.** 



The K'acale society is virtually extinct at Acoma. There remain 

 only one or two of the old members.*" Nowadays, when the K'acale 

 come, other men impersonate them. They are not real K'acale — they 

 have not been initiated; they do not know their secrets; they merely 

 act like K'acale. 



The following is an account of the last scalp dance at Acoma and 

 of the last time new members were initiated mto the K'acale society. 



■^ Paiyatyamo, too, is associated with tlie sun. 



" Certain features stand out quite clearly in a study of the koshare, their clown, war functions, and their 

 skatological rites. Nevertheless I feel that a thorough understanding of this society has not yet beeu 

 attained. I do not understand how such a combination of features could have been made. The K'acale 

 are fools at times and at others the most important officials in the pueblo. They amuse and terrify people 

 and disgust them, too, with their filthy rites, and they are associated with the medicine societies, too, 

 in a way. Koshare are to be seen on medicine bowls sometimes. (There are some in the .\merican Mu- 

 seum of Natural History.) It is said also that a witch may assume the guise of a koshare, which seems to 

 indicate that the koshare are powerful in black magic. There is no doubt but that they do possess, or are 

 able to manipulate, supernatural power to a considerable degree. Is the koshare a conglomerate, his sev- 

 eral Qualities being associated through historical accident, or is he the product of a peculiar psychological 

 situation? I feel the need of a more intimate understanding of these personages, and I feel that it is at 

 this point that a deejier understanding of pueblo religion (and "psychology") could be most profitably 

 pursued. 



" Why did the K'acale society die out while two curing societies remain with considerable strength, 

 and the kachina cult seems even to be growing? Was it becau.se the opi were forced into extinction? 

 Did this remove the reason for their existence? This is a suggestive clue. 



