108 INDIANS OF THE SOUTH^VEST. 



Small sticks, singly or in pairs, are painted and often 

 have faces indicated en them. Feathers, and a corn 

 husk containing corn meal and honey are usually 

 attached to them. They are placed at the shrines 

 and springs for the deities. Corn meal and pollen are 

 strewed and thrown toward the sun. Corn meal is 

 frequently used to mark ceremonial trails and to define 

 the limits of sacred places. Races generally occur 

 during the ceremonies, but the significance of them is 

 not clear. Bathing the head and the use of emetics 

 are resorted to as methods of purification. 



In general it may be said that Southwestern cere- 

 monials chiefly employ dramatic, graphic, and pictorial 

 art to accomplish their purposes which appear to be 

 the influencing of invisible supernatural powders and 

 through them the natural forces. The greater number 

 of the ceremonies are intended to bring rain and to 

 aid in fertilizing the crops. 



It is only from Bandelier's short account of his 

 observations among the Pueblos of the Rio Grande 

 published many years ago, and the work of ]\Irs. 

 Stevenson among the Si a that we are able to get a view 

 at all comprehensive of the religious organization of 

 the Rio Grande region. 



At the head of the political and religious systems is 

 the cacique, as he is ordinarily called. The office 

 which is held for life requires years of training and 

 study as a preparation, and its duties are arduous. 

 He is expected to devote himself to a life of fasting and 

 prayer. His fasts vary from slight temporary- self 



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