Dramatic Elements in American Indian Ceremonials g 



Act I 



The arrival of the first band of Katcina impersonators was 

 announced by strange cries from the hatchway. After repeated 

 summons from the fire-tenders to enter, the actors descended the 

 ladder, in the protecting darkness afl^orded them by the fire-tenders 

 in their capacity of curtain, and set up their scenic effects. When 

 all was in readiness, the fire-tenders dropped their robes, so re- 

 vealing to the audience a miniature cornfield against a cloth screen 

 backgrotmd extending from the floor almost to the rafters. On 

 this were many strange devices, most prominent among which 

 were six large disks encircled by corn husk wreaths and decorated 

 with symbolic pictures of the sun. On other parts of the screen 

 were many symbols of the male and female elements in nature, 

 ranging from birds to human beings together with symbols of 

 rain clouds, lightning, and falling rain. In the foreground on each 

 side of the screen were men representing bear Katcinas in cere- 

 monial kilts, one of whom was dressed to represent a woman. The 

 latter bore in one hand a basket tray of meal and in the other an 

 ear of corn. He wore a black helmet in which were cut small 

 crescent-shaped eyes. On each side of the face coils of hair were 

 suspended and over the forehead hung red horsehair bangs. From 

 the top of the mask protruded a bunch of feathers. This was an 

 impersonation of Hahaiwiipti, mother of Katcinas. 



The act began with a song to the rhythm of which all except 

 Hahaiwiipti danced. While this song was still in progress, a 

 hoarse roar was heard from behind the screen, and shortly there- 

 after the disks swung open and out of the orifices protruded the 

 heads of six great serpent effigies — goggle eyes, a fan-shaped crest 

 of hawk feathers, and a mouth with prominent teeth from which 

 hung a red leather tongue. The bodies, thrust slowly into view, 

 were black on the back and white on the under side. When they 

 were fully extended, the song grew louder and faster. The effi- 

 gies, swaying to the rhythm, seemed to bite at each other and to 

 make frequent darts towards the men near the screen. Then the 

 heads of the serpents suddenly turned towards the floor and in an 

 instant the effigies had swept across the imitation cornfield, over- 



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