Identifier: annualreportofbu1118891890smit (find matches)
Title: Annual report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
Year: 1880 (1880s)
Authors: Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of Ethnology
Subjects: Ethnology Indians
Publisher: Washington : G.P.O.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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ored tohealth by a theurgist, and a parent may enter a child into a society,, ora boy or girl having arrived at years of discretion, may declare a de-sire to join a society. In the case of a young child the paternal or maternal parent callsupon the theiugist and, making known his wish, presents him with ahandful of shell mixtiire, saying, I wish my child to become a mem-ber of your society that his mind and heart may be strong. In thecase of an elder boy or girl the clan is first notified, and the applicantthen calls upon the theiu-gist and, ijresenting him a handful of theshell mixture, makes known his wish. Most of the societies are divided into two or more orders, the moreimportant order being that in which the members are endowed withthe anagogics of medicine, except in the Snake Society, when the snake The sacred meal, or sbcll mixture as it is often railed by the Sia, may he prepared by au adult ofeither sex; it is composed of coarsely ground meal, powilered sliells, and turkis.
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STEVENSON. THEURGISTIC RITES. 75 order is essential. One must pass through three degrees before beingpermitted to handle the snakes. In the case of minors they can not beinitiated into the third degree until, in the hona.aites judgment, theyare amenable to the rigid rules. A person may belong to two or moreof these societies. Women may be members of the various orders, excepting in thesocieties of the Snake, Cougar, or Hunters and Warriors. The Snakedivision of the Snake Society has no female members, and the societiesof the Cougar or Hunters and Warriors are composed entirely of men.When one makes known his desire to enter a society he states to thetheurgist which division he wishes to join. The objection to handling the snakes keeps the Snake division of thissociety limited, though the honor is much greater in belonging to thisdivision. Upon enteiing the medicine order of any society the newmember is presented with the fetich yaya by the theurgist, who mustpractice continency four

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