The Pima Indians/Linguistics/Speeches

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The Pima Indians (1908)
by Frank Russell

Elder Brother as He Restored Himself to Life

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Vocabularies - Songs - Speeches
Elder Brother as He Restored Himself to Life · Opening of Rain Ceremony · Going to War · War Chief Urging People to Go on the Warpath Against the Apaches · First Night on the Warpath, First Speech · First Night on the Warpath, Second Speech · The Warpath, First Speech · The Warpath, Second Speech · The Warpath, Third Speech · The Warpath, Fourth Speech

4505150The Pima Indians — Linguistics1908Frank Russell

LINGUISTICS

Speeches

Set speeches which recited portions of the cosmogonical myth were a feature of many ceremonies and were especially important in the preparation for war. They were slightly adapted for each occasion but their general content remained the same. Highly figurative language is used and in consequence it is extremely difficult to obtain even an approximately correct translation. The free translation offered is the result of many discussions with the older men.

In the ten speeches here given reference is made to the following deities, magicians, etc.:

Elder Brother.
Earth Doctor.
South Doctor.
Vulture.
Talking Tree.
Sun.
Gray Gopher.
Black, Blue, and White
Mocking-bird.
Kuvĭk.
Gray Spider.
Blue Gopher.

Black, Blue, Red, and
White Measuring
Worm.
Lightning Magician.
Thunder Magician.
Wind Magician.
Foam Magician.
Sinking Magician.
Vakolif Magician.
Vikârskam.
Nasia.
Old Woman Magician

White, Blue, Black, and
Yellow Dragonfly.
Yellow Spider.
Down Roll.
Yellow Raven.
Bluebird.
Mountain.
Mocking Bird.
Blue Coyote.
Black Kangaroo Mouse.
Owl.