Music of Acoma, Isleta, Cochiti, and Zuñi Pueblos - Flutopedia.com

26 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 165
It is customary for members of all the medicine societies to speak
somewhat as follows during the private treatment of the sick:
You can see that I am an ordinary human being. It is a spirit that cures the
sick through me. It is not within my power alone but I am taking the place of
the spirit that has the power.
Anyone who wishes may "say a few words to encourage the medicine
man."
Every medicine man has a dish called aiwuna yisti (pi. 5) which he
uses in the public treatment of the sick. This treatment is ceremonial in
character and many mediciue men take part in it, some being actively
engaged in the treatment while others sing and shake gourd rattles.
The medicine dish (pi. 3, a) used in this ceremony is different from
the medicine bowl, or dish, mentioned in the song concerning Laguna
Lake (No. 36). Into this bowl the medicine man puts a substance
made from a snake. He claims that by looking into the bowl he
receives clairvoyant power and also is enabled to cure the sick person.
The bowl is covered during part of his performance and he removes
the cover when desiring to increase his power or knowledge. The use
of the "prayer stick" (pi. 3, a) was not described.
The following song is used by members of all the societies of medicine
men.
(Catalog No. 1907)
J = 93
F^^
No. 20. Song addressed to medicine bowl
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