132 



THE ACOMA INDIANS 



(ETH. ANN. 47 



Ritual Patterns 



It might 1)6 well to summarize at this point some of the ritual 

 patterns which we have met during our accounts of ceremonies: 



Fasting and continence; salt and meat and sexual intercourse are 

 taboo during sacred ceremonies. 



Vomiting before breakfast, using an herb brew as an emetic, is 

 considered salutary and purifying. 



The counterclockwise cii'cuit of the four directions (each with its 

 color): North, yellow; west, blue; south, red; east, white. 



The number four is the conventional ceremonial number. 



Whipping is appropriate at the initiation of children and war chiefs; 

 the o'pi (warriors) are subjected to some physical pain. 



Smoking is done ceremonially. Corn-husk cigarettes are used. At 

 official calls, during curing ceremonies, etc., cigarettes arc used. 



Figure 6. — Pictographs and petroglyphs near Acoma. Note t!ie K'atsina in lower right 



Medicine men trap persons with them. The masks are ofl'ered ciga- 

 rettes during their stay in the kivas. Cigarettes are placed in wasani 

 for the spirits. 



Food is given the masks in the estufas. It is also thrown over 

 cliffs for spirits. All important ceremonies are attended with feasting. 



LIFE CYCLE OF AN INDIVIDUAL 



Birth 



During pregnancy a woman modifies her ordinary conduct some- 

 what. She should not stand in a doorway ; this would retard delivery. 

 She should not go out walking very much. She is not supposed to 

 eat fruit. She must not work too much. One should never show 



