New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08

with macaw perched on her shoulder. The
ark rode on the water one year toward each
point of the compass, and the fifth it rose up
ward and all the world still filed with
water The next year the water began to
subside, and the ark lodged the mountain.
where it is still to be seen. The man took off
the cover and saw that all the country was still
under water; but by and by the land began to
dry up and trees and grass Sprang forth aided by
grandmother CIR with. The man then went 10
live in a cave In the day time, while he was In
the field the dog remained behind. Every
afternoon, on coming back he found corncakes
ready for him. He curious to know who
made them. After five days had passed he hid
himself in the bushes near the cave to watch,
when suddenly he the dog take off her skin
and hang it up, when there appeared the form
Of a woman. who knelt down and began grind
ing corn in metate. He stealthily advanced
toward her from behind. and. quickly Selling
the skin which she had hung up, threw it into
the fire. From this time she remained a
woman. They married and had large
family Their sons and daughters married, and
by and by the HuicholS people were created
and the people lived in caves thereafter.
Grandmother Growth. who is so intimately
associated with the ark legend. is shown at
the Museum in a statuette made of wood and
taken out of her god house. The head is pro-
fusely covered with hair made from fine wool.
The face is adorned with black. red and yellow
spots, symbolic of corn of all cOlors, she being
the special patron of vegetation and growth.
Her dress is made from piece torn from
wool symbolic of clouds The sticks and
batOns of Grandmother Growth, of grotesque
shape symbolic the power and old age of the
goddess. These sticks, with serpent and animal
heads in common among the tribe. and
are deposited in her god house as prayers for
long life.
One of the most important of the ceremonies
of the Huichols is the rainmaking feast of the
hikuli This is the name of a cactus plant
which grows in the central part of Mexico,
and when eaten has an exhilarating effect on
the nervous system and causes color visions.
1t is thought necessary to procure it every year
to insure the country against drOuth. Accord
ing to the Euichol myths this plant, we'll as
water sprang from the forehead of the deer.
1t deer god that left the hikuli plants in
his track the first time he appeared in the
country where the plants now grow, and when
the gods for the first time felt the mysterious
effect which hikuli produces, it came from a
magic drink made by grinding deer anter on
a metate and mixing it with water. In october
parties of twenty-five or fifty start a pill
grimage after the plant, which is accompanied
| by much feasting and ceremonial Observances
| for forty-three days. On the return of the
| hikuli seekers with their loads a great feast,
with dancing is held, which occupies several
weeks. This performance is a representation
| of a serpent dance. Each man carries in his
hands conventonaliZed representations of rattle
snakes in the shape of bamboo sticks ornament
ed with this serpent, which was once supposed
| to be the great god Deertail- A shaman. or
medicine man, seated, beats time for the dancers
on a primitive drum made of a hollow fig log
and covered over the top with deerskin a
lighted pine torch is kept burning underneath
the drum to make it taut while being played.
The shamans, or magicians. are supposed to be
in close touch with the gods, and know how to
appease their anger, which they show by
Withholding rain from the people. BY singing
epiCs setting forth the ancient deeds of the
gods and by subsequent sacrifices of deer and
oxen, they succeed in pleasing the deities, and
forthwith they send down the much desired
rain. The accompanying illustrations are re-
produced by the courtesy of the American
Museum of Natural History.