Zuñi Fetiches | Page 2

of its most obvious trait, its gliding, zigzag motion. For this reason, the serpent is supposed to be more nearly related to lightning than to man; more nearly related to man than is lightning, because mortal and less mysterious. As further illustrative of the interminable relationships which are established on resemblances fancied or actual, the flint arrow-point may be cited. Although fashioned by man, it is regarded as originally the gift or "flesh" of lightning, as made by the power of lightning, and rendered more effective by these connections with the dread element; pursuant of which idea, the zigzag or lightning marks are added to the shafts of arrows. A chapter might be written concerning this idea, which may possibly help to explain the Celtic, Scandinavian, and Japanese beliefs concerning "elf-shafts," and "thunder-stones," and "bolts."
In like manner, the supernatural beings of man's fancy--the "master existences"--are supposed to be more nearly related to the personalities with which the elements and phenomena of nature are endowed than to either animals or men; because, like those elements and phenomena, and unlike men and animals, they are connected with remote tradition in a manner identical with their supposed existence to-day, and therefore are considered immortal.
To the above descriptions of the supernatural beings of Zu?i Theology should be added the statement that all of these beings are given the forms either of animals, of monsters compounded of man and beast, or of man. The animal gods comprise by far the largest class.
In the Zu?i, no general name is equivalent to "the gods," unless it be the two expressions which relate only to the higher or creating and controlling beings--the "causes," Creators and Masters, "Pí-kwain=á-ha-i" (Surpassing Beings), and "á-t?-tchu" (All-fathers), the beings superior to all others in wonder and power, and the "Makers" as well as the "Finishers" of existence. These last are classed with the supernatural beings, personalities of nature, object beings, etc., under one term--
a. í-shothl-ti-mon=á-ha-i, from í-shothl-ti-mo-na=ever recurring, immortal, and á-ha-i=beings.
Likewise, the animals and animal gods, and sometimes even the supernatural beings, having animal or combined animal and human personalities, are designated by one term only--
b. K'ia-pin=á-ha-i, from k'ia-pin-na=raw, and á-ha-i=beings. Of these, however, three divisions are made:
(1.) K'ia-pin-á-ha-i=game animals, specifically applied to those animals furnishing flesh to man.
(2.) K'i?-shem-á-ha-i, from k'i?-we=water, she-man=wanting, and á-ha-i=beings, the water animals, specially applied not only to them, but also to all animals and animal gods supposed to be associated sacredly with water, and through which water is supplicated.
(3.) Wé-ma-á-ha-i, from we-ma=prey, and á-ha-i=beings, "Prey Beings," applied alike to the prey animals and their representatives among the gods. Finally we have the terms--
c. Ak-na=á-ha-i, from ák-na=done, cooked, or baked, ripe, and á-ha-i=beings, the "Done Beings," referring to mankind; and
d. ?sh-i-k'ia=á-ha-i, from ?[']sh-k'ia=made, finished, and á-ha-i=beings, "Finished Beings," including the dead of mankind.
That very little distinction is made between these orders of life, or that they are at least closely related, seems to be indicated by the absence from the entire language of any general term for God. True, there are many beings in Zu?i Mythology godlike in attributes, anthropomorphic, monstrous, and elemental, which are known as the "Finishers or makers of the paths of life," while the most superior of all is called the "Holder of the paths (of our lives)," Ha[']-no-o-na wí-la-po-na. Not only these gods, but all supernatural beings, men, animals, plants, and many objects in nature, are regarded as personal existences, and are included in the one term á-ha-i, from á, the plural particle signifying "all," and ha-i, being or life,="Life," "the Beings." This again leads us to the important and interesting conclusion that all beings, whether deistic and supernatural, or animistic and mortal, are regarded as belonging to one system; and that they are likewise believed to be related by blood seems to be indicated by the fact that human beings are spoken of as the "children of men," while all other beings are referred to as "the Fathers," the "All-fathers," and "Our Fathers."
THE WORSHIP OF ANIMALS.
It naturally follows from the Zu?i's philosophy of life, that his worship, while directed to the more mysterious and remote powers of nature, or, as he regards them, existences, should relate more especially to the animals; that, in fact, the animals, as more nearly related to himself than are these existences, more nearly related to these existences than to himself, should be frequently made to serve as mediators between them and him. We find this to be the case. It follows likewise that in his inability to differentiate the objective from the subjective, he should establish relationships between natural objects which resemble animals and the animals themselves; that he should even ultimately imitate these animals for the sake of establishing such relationships, using such accidental resemblances as his motives, and thus developing a conventionality in all art