CUSBINO.] 



MAGIC SPIRIT POWER. 15 



like the beings tbemselvdS, sometimes shriveled and distorted. And 

 we oiten see among the rocks the forms of»many beings that live no 

 longer, which shows us that all was different in the " days of the new." 

 Of these petrifactions, which are of course mere concretions or strangely 

 eroded rock- forms, the Zuuis say, " Whomsoever of us may be met with 

 the light of such great good fortune may see (discover, find) them 

 and should treasure them for the sake of the sacred (magic) power which 

 was given them in the days of the new. For the spirits of the We-ma- 

 d-ba-i still live, and are pleased to receive from us the Sacred Plume 

 (of the heart— La sho-ani), and sacred necklace of treasure (Thlathle-a) ; 

 hence they turn their ears and the ears of their brothers in our direction 

 that they may hearken to our prayers (sacred talks) and know our 

 wants." 



POWER OF THE FETICHES. 



This tradition not only furnishes additional evidence relative to the 

 preceding statements, but also, taken in connection with the following 

 belief, shows quite clearly to the native wherein lies the power of his 

 fetiches. It is supposed that the hearts of the great animals of prey 

 are infused with a spirit or medicine of magic influence over the hearts 

 of the animals they prey upon, or the game animals (K'ia-pin-dha-i) ; 

 thattheirbreaths(the"BreathofLife"—Ha-i-anpi-nan-ne— and soul are 

 synonymous in Zuui Mythology), derived from their hearts, and breathed 

 upon their prey, whether near or far, never fail to overcome them, pierc- 

 ing their hearts and causing their limbs to stiffen, and the animals them- 

 selves to lose their strength. Moreover, the roar or cry of a beast of 

 prey is accounted its SA-wa-ni-k'ia, or magic medicine of destruction, 

 which, heard by the game animals, is fatal to them, because it charms 

 their senses, as does the breath their hearts. Since the mountain lion, 

 for example, lives by the blood ("life fluid") and flesh of the game ani- 

 mals, and by these alone, he is endowed not only with the above powers, 

 but with peculiar powers in the senses of sight and smell. Moreover, 

 these powers, as derived from his heart, are preserved in his fetich, 

 since his heart still lives, even though his person be changed to stone. 



