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The First Mountain Spirit Ceremony, Chiricahua Apache Text

excerpted from Chiricahua Apache Texts, with Ethnological Notes

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19. The First Mountain Spirit Ceremony as told by Sam Kenoi

19.1.

Long ago, when everything was new, there were many Indians.

19.2.

Then that man who knew about the Mountain Spirits talked to them:

19.3.

Then the people spoke thus:

19.4.

Then this man, he who knew about the Mountain Spirits [and] was going to make them for them, again talked to them.

19.5.

In a good way, in exactly that way, he had made it known to them.

19.6.

Now then, making use of some of those people who were with him, he made the Mountain Spirits.

19.7.

Then some children [who] were playing ran about all over.

19.8.

Then one young girl came out near the Mountain Spirits who were being decorated.

19.9.

Then, at twilight there was a big fire at the place where the ceremony was to be held.

19.10.

Then this one, the one man that the young girl had seen [and] recognized where the Mountains Spirits were being decorated, was pointing around there where the Mountain Spirits were dancing.

19.11.

Then that one who knew about the Mountain Spirits [and] who had made them for the people immediately knew [what she had said]

19.12.

Then the Mountain Spirits went back out [of sight].

19.13.

Then the people pleaded with him

19.14.

He really tried to help her for them with all his power but it could not be done

19.15.

Then that one who had made the Mountain Spirits for them spoke to them.

19.16.

In spite of that, this man who knew about the Mountain Spirits, by means of his power, tried to help her for them so that nothing would happen to them but he did so in vain.

19.17.

Then this man who had made the Mountain Spirits for them made this known to them.

19.18.

Then he also spoke thus to them again:

19.19.

Then, in just that way, the ceremony went on.

19.20.

The fourth night came to an end as he had promised them.

19.21.

That morning, many Mountain Spirits from the mountains strung out in a very long line, came to them.

19.22.

At the place where the ceremony had been held, they blessed the fire that had lain there.

19.23.

At the place where the ceremony had been held, they circled toward the fire several times.

19.24.

Then the Big Blue Mountain Spirit went to the front.

19.25.

Then the Big Yellow Mountain Spirit went to the front.

19.26.

Then now, the Gray One went before all of the Mountain Spirits.

19.27.

There were many of them.

19.28.

The Gray One knows more than all of the Mountain Spirits of whatever kind.

Linguistic Notes by Harry Hoijer

Ethnological Notes Morris Opler

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The First Mountain Spirit Ceremony, Chiricahua Apache Text

excerpted from Chiricahua Apache Texts, with Ethnological Notes

Hoijer, Harry

University of Chicago Press

Chicago

1938