Page:IJAL vol 1.djvu/143

 NO. 2

��TEPECANO PRAYERS

��135

��aniho nampua' 'rgidic hacnaci'dud'u

Hereabouts that they belong thus that hoards.

kuha'pu.pwico'p a'nicho'hi napim-

Then thus also I desire that ye*

xo'mai.intane''tiD'a navarci'vgo-k 1 o - 'xi one me will lend that is seven beautiful

xi'komorh&van nampu6ip'u ku-

cloud within that they walk. Then*

xa'pu.pwi'co'p ani'camtan ha-'gicdara thus also I you beg pardon.

kupi'mipuma-'tohi gamrnka - 'hida

Then ye know me will go hearing

ganavarxo'por na'mpuaniho'.mo'riirok'

they which are winds. That they hereabouts run

hoga navaricto'dok' amai'nikdaM

that which is green their petate on

na'mpuaniho.soi'ma'ma'c hacnaci'dudu

that they hereabouts sad appear thus that hoards.

hoga navarakai"k - oraG navarinsu'ssidat That which is their master who is my*

Protector,

inci'u'k in.o-'k' kunicpurrratirt

my Morning Star, my Father. Then I cause*

to know

hidi ho'maD ni'.o-k nampuha'ban.- this one word that they in it*

a'rgidic namaramso'soi'k'am nampum- are formed that they are your pets that they*

to'tok /feow/h'ha'p.ma'toD inka'uk tun- are called. With which thus know; me hear, me*

ha'gicit pardon.

NOTE

The deer is the animal of consummate importance in all the religions of the Tepecano region 1 and around it center many ceremonies and rites.

When a man desires to hunt deer, which is a requisite for certain ceremonies, he com- mences a fast of seven days. On the first

1 Cf. Lumholtz, Symbolism, p. 22.

! Nahua otlatl, the base of a reed with branching roots which are trimmed and decorated to represent the head of a deer. Cf. Lumholtz, Symbolism, p. 51.

��day he goes to the Cerro del Cantaro with an otate 2 decorated with beads, to resemble the head of a deer, a jicara decorated with beads, and a chimal of pure white cotton. The otates have the same name and spirit as a deer and are made with green beads for the eyes. But if no otate is available a figure of a deer may be made of clay or wax and used instead. At the Cerro del Cantaro the supplicant leaves his offerings and recites the prayer.

The following day he hunts to the east, the third day to the north, the fourth to the west and the fifth to the south. Thereafter he may hunt where he wishes as long as he desires. But the first deer secured must be entirely distributed among the others; he may not touch it. Candles must be made of the fat and he must light one and put it in his house before setting forth again. This is for the spirits. 3

For the Fiesta of the Milpa Cuata the deer of which the chuales 4 are made must be caught in a snare and cooked whole, head and all.

TRANSLATION

Unbidden have I come hither, craving your pets which wander about in the dark hills, the deer as they are called hereabouts on your green carpet where they belong. I ask that ye lend me one of these which wander in the seven beautiful clouds. Like- wise do I beg your forgiveness. Ye should know that they may hear me in the winds, running about on their green carpet where mournfully they appear. Their Master is my Lord, my Guide, my Morning Star. I will speak unto him the one word with which were created these which are called your pets. Know it; hear me and pardon me.

'Uncertain whether the spirits of the deer or whether disembodied or unembodied anthropomorphic spirits.

4 Nahua chualli, a mush made of pinole and finely chopped meat, cooked in corn husk; practically equiva- lent to tamale.

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