Page:American Anthropologist NS vol. 1.djvu/104

 flktchek] A PAWNEE RITUAL 85

atmosphere of his mind was seemingly unaffected by the culture of our race. His unquestioning faith in the religion of his fore- fathers soared far above the turbulent conditions of today, and gave to him a calm akin to the serenity of childhood, which was reflected in his kindly, smiling, and peaceful face. His name was Ta-hi'-roos-sa-wi-chi, and he belonged to the Chau-i' division of the Pawnee.

The priest, having first engaged in silent prayer, intoned the ritual, of which a graphophone record was taken.

The words were separated into syllables. Sometimes an en- tire word or parts of two words were represented by a single sylla- ble, and each syllable in the ritual was uttered as though it was a complete word. Rather a high pitch was taken for the recital, probably from habit, as the ritual was always given in the hearing of a great multitude.

Mr Murie and I spent three days in the translation and study of the ritual, assisted by the priest, who explained to us many points that were somewhat obscure, owing to elisions, the em- ployment of a single word as a mnemonic to call up the picture of a complicated action, and the forcing of words to a different application from that of ordinary speech — a not uncommon oc- currence in rituals. He carefully watched our work step by step, lest we should fall into mistakes, remarking that the ritual " speaks of the powerful gods of whom man should be careful what he says." The translation represents much painstaking labor on the part of Mr Murie, whose intelligent interest in the history of his tribe is worthy of record, and bids fair to bear fruit in the near future.

There is one aspect of the ritual, essential to its understand- ing, that was very carefully studied by us, and I will give the gist of many conversations on the subject. The priest explained that a man's life is an onward movement. If one has within him a determined purpose and seeks the favor of the gods, his life will 44 climb up." Here the priest made a gesture indicating a line

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