Dramatic Elements in American Indian Ceremonials 3 



second possibility is scarcely worth noting ; for, the dramatic con- 

 ception once realized, it is not likely to lose ground. Music, sung 

 ritual, together with rhythmic motion, aside from certain stage 

 settings, help to retain in the epic-lyric nature of the plains tribes' 

 ceremonials, distinct dramatic features. On the other hand, the 

 religious or ritual content is almost as generally understood by the 

 pueblo audience as were the accepted plots of classic tragedy which 

 were the common property of the Greek audience. Whereas the 

 Greek went to hear the poets' ideas upon certain human situations, 

 the Indian of the pueblo type went to see how the members of the 

 various societies would act in the role of gods or other supei'- 

 natural beings. From the standpoint of his savage interest, dia- 

 logue is, in the main, non-essential. Songs and musical accom- 

 paniment fulfil at least in part the general function of dialogue. 



PUEBLO CEREMONIALS 



Of the religious observances in which dramatic action predomi- 

 nates, some of the best instances may be cited among the Hopi or 

 Moki, distinctly a pueblo people, and the Navajo, a pueblo-influ- 

 enced people. Both the purely communal and the largely indi- 

 vidual ceremonials are celebrated by each of these tribes ; but for 

 the sake of definiteness, let us first review two of the Hopi in- 

 door performances, Katcina impersonations, as they are called, 

 both of a communal nature; and later, take up a Navajo celebra- 

 tion of the individual sort. 



In considering the dramatic features of ceremonials among 

 pueblo, plains, and eastern woodland peoples, it must be remem- 

 bered that sympathetic magic constitutes the very backbone of all 

 drama-like performances. Not even among the pueblo tribes have 

 the most spectacular of shows freed themselves from this religious 

 content. All have as their basic purpose the influencing of super- 

 natural powers or deities, inducing them to grant to otherwise 

 helpless man the various good things of life — peace, plenty, and 

 increase. The celebrations themselves conform strictly to certain 

 fixed codes, subject to little alteration. It is this conformity to 

 the general trend of cosmic and universal myths which in time 

 develops what may be termed texts ; for the nature and succes- 



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