The Portland daily press., 1893-05-19


INITIATING THE JUMPING OF A RABBIT.
On the afternoon before the morning
OF the hunt prayer plumes are planted
on the route Of the hunt. These prayers
are small whitfield sticks notched at one
end, with a ruff of feathers bound at the
top, planted at intervals of about 90 feet.
The pretty plumes almost conceal the
stick from view, giving it the appearance
Of waving plant. Only feathers of
bright plumage, mainly the parrot and
peacock, are used. Black feathers, as
those Of the raven, are never used and
would give the hunter bad luck. With
out feathers for these prayers there
would be no rabbit hunt. Bundles of
prayer plumes inclosed in corn husks
are deposited in the several shrines of
the village.
The shrine near the gate Of the Pueblo
village is stone structure about feet
in height, with two chambers. The top
is covered with a flat stone, and of
course the shrine faces toward the rising
sun. 1t is surrounded by the skulls and
bones of animals which had been thrown
there the preceding year as an offering.
Each Indian hunter wears around his
neck a fetch, or "luck charm, carved
from stone in the shape of the animal he
is to hunt. This is supposed to not only
give him luck, but also the craft and
cunning Of the animal he is after.
Bis only weapon is one very much like
the Australian boomerang.
About shutdown on the night before
the rabbit hunt the town crier goes
through the crooked streets of the vii
lage announcing in high G that the rab-
bit hunt will take place next day at sun
rise; also that. the preliminary rabbit
hunt dance will be held ON that even
ing at the house of the chief medicine
man.
The singing during the so called dance
is supposed to SO charm the rabbits that
they cannot hear the approach Of the
hunters, but should any be within hear
ing distance 1t would no doubt have a
contrary effect. During this semireli-
gious ceremonial all smoke the sssacred"
cigarette, which is rolled in corn husks.
This is supposed to blind the bright red
eyes of the watchful rabbit.
About dark fire is built near where
the dance is to be held. It is lighted by
sacred fire which is emitted by rubbing
two sticks together; otherwise the med
icine man, who is also lamplighter,
would be considered as bringing curse
upon the village. The Indians believe
that the lightning rests in the trees, and
that when the sacred fire is wanted it
can only be had by rubbing two sticks
together. The dancers form in line, fac
ing the west. The priest is at the head
of the line. He first sprinkles the floor
with sacred cornneal. The line is in
the shape of crescent, opening to the
east. He gives the word, and all prom
enade. An old woman, who does not
dance, stands near the priest and from
basket ornamented with peacock feath-
ers sprinkles cornmeal upon the dancers
as they pass.
The chanting is even moro monoto-
nous. The musical instruments are
concave gourds. over the opening of
which notched stick is drawn. At
the height of the festivities the noise
is the most excruciating imaginable.
Finally there is a lull. and the come
dian gets into the middle Of the room
and initiates the jumping of a rab-
bit. The dancers wear only girdles
around their loins. The upper part of
the body is painted deep red, one leg
yellow, the other white, and the arms
are similarly painted. The dance lasts
till midnight. Next morning the hunt
ers assemble, and led by the medicine
man there sa race to the place for the
meeting hunt. Each rider carries sew
eral boomerangs tied to his saddle by
buckskin thongs. Over the broad mesas
they charge, hurting with unerring aim
and terrible force their strange missiles
ut the fleeing rabbits.
About shutdown the days hunt is end
ed, and the Indian hunters return to the
pueblo with theft game dangling from
their saddles. At nightfall fires are seen
on the plain at the base Of the foothills,
and the chanting of women is heard.
They have gathered to welcome their
husbands and fathers, and all return to
the pueblo together, singing the song of
the rabbit hunt. They assemble in front
ct the house of the cazique, the chief
official OF the village, and serenade him
with the song they have just chanted
The hunter who kills rabbit eats its
head, as it is supposed to give him power
TO Kill others. The head is also sprinkled
with cornmeal. The rabbit isroasted in
ADOBE ovens or stewed whole in earthen
lars with co,.p.,,ao1 rTbov orc ,,oyo,
tried. Why is known only to themselves.