Page:American Anthropologist NS vol. 22.djvu/31

 MASON]

��THE PAP AGO HARVEST FESTIVAL

��fire. Arriving there he sprinkles corn-meal on the breasts of all, thus preventing sickness and bringing them long life. Meanwhile the tcu'i'wa^t from Achi does the same for the people of Santa Rosa. This is done for two mornings and the third morning the two per- form the same rite in their own respective villages.

After nine days of preparation the solitary tally-stick in the

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��4- AKCHIN

��ANEKAM

��MOON > |SUN

��ENTRANCE

��I ACHI AND IRON PUMP

��2 KOKEMAT KEK

��Fig. i. Diagram of the Vigita enclosure. The entrance and the pole with its ceremonial paraphernalia are shown with their proper orientation. The village group- ings are shown in their proper relative positions, but the orientation is uncertain.

center of the dance-ground indicates that the following day is that of the celebration. On this day all the celebrants gather together and build the main enclosure (fig. i). This is about ten paces square and built as high as the tallest corn-stalks. Posts are erected every three feet and the space between filled with a wattling of corn- stalks and sahuaro ribs. There is one entrance to the east. Then each village selects a definite part of the enclosure for its ceremonial objects and singers, the portion of the enclosure in the geographical direction of each village being selected by the members of that village. But nothing is put inside till the day of the feast and no markings are made or fences erected to designate the village selec- tions.

In the center of this enclosure a post is then erected, about four feet in height. It is a log about six inches in thickness with a

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