0054

Trophies and Ceremonies After a Victory

Returning from their wars, the Indians assemble in a place designated for this purpose. Here they bring the legs, arms, and scalps of the fallen adversaries and with great solemnities attach them to tall poles. Then the men and the women sit down in a circle before the poles, where their sorcerer, holding a small image, begins to curse the enemy, uttering a thousand imprecations in a low voice. While the sorcerer is repeating his curses, three men kneel opposite him. One of them pounds on a flat stone with a club, marking time with the spells; two others rattle pumpkins filled with small stones or seeds and accompany the sorcerer's words with a chant. This is their way of celebrating whenever they win a victory over their enemies.

Monday, 15-May-95 14:17:42 PDT