Religion And Ceremonies Of The Lenape

CONTENTS PAGE: Preface ................................ 13 CHAPTER I Pantheon .......................... 17 Supreme Being ................. 18 Evil Spirit ..................... 24 Manitowiik of the Four Directions 25 TheSun ....................... 27 The Moon ..................... 28 The Earth ..................... 28 Thunder Beings ................. 29 Keepers of the Heavens .......... 31 Misingh li kiin, or Living Solid Face ........................ 32 Mother Corn ................... 43 CHAPTER I1 Minor Deities ...................... 45 Doll Being ..................... 4.5 Tornado ....................... 47 Snow Boy ...................... 48 Comet ......................... 48 Evil Manitowiik ............... 49 Animal Spirits .................. 49 Plant Spirits ................... 51 Local Genii .................... 51 INDIAN NOTES - - - . - 6 LENAPE PACE CHAPTER CHASPuTrEvR iv 1 a 1 l 1 of the Soul ................. 52 The Soul ....................... 52 The Land of Spirits ............. 52 Ghosts and Mediumship ......... 54 Early Accounts .................. 56 Penn ...................... 56 Brainerd ................... 56 Zeisberger .................. 57 CHAPTER IV Visions and Guardian Spirits ......... 61 . Initiation of Boys ............... 63 Other Visions ...... ............. 64 The Guardian Spirit ............. 65 Favored Individuals ......... 66 . Unami Examples ............ 67 M insi Examples ............ 72 Historical References ........ 77 Brainerd ............... 77 Zeisberger .............. 77 Loskiel ................ 78 Heckewelder ........... 78 Adams ................. 80 CHAPTER V Unami Annual Ceremony ............ 81 The Ixader ..................... 81 Officers ........................ 84 Preparations ................... 85 Ceremony Comnlenced .......... 87 Chiefs Speech .................. 87 Recital of Visions ............... 92 I N D I A N NOTES CONTENTS Conclusion of Rites ............. P A 9 G 6 E Departure of the Hunters ........ 97 Prayer for the Hunters .......... 99 Return of the Hunters ........... IOO New Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Use of Carved Drumsticks ....... IOI Turtle Rattles .................. 103 Phratry Prayers ................ 104 Womens Night ................. 10.5 Conclusion of Ceremony ......... 106 Payment of Attendants .......... 107 Finale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Payment of Officers ............. IIO Valuation of Vampurn .......... I I I Indian Comments on the Ceremony I I I Penns Account ................. 11.5 Zeisbergers Account ............ 116 Adams Account ................ 118 Another Form of the Annual Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 CHAPTER 171 Minsi Big House Ceremonies ......... 127 iLI yth of Origin ................. 127 Number of Ceremonies .......... 128 Arrangement of the Big Hou. se ... 129 Preliminaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Fire ....................... 132 Purification ................ I33 Opening of the Ceremony ........ I33 Chiefs Speech .............. I33 Ceremonial Drink ............... 134 AND MONOGRAPHS 7 8 LENAPE Recital of Visions ............... P A I3 G 5 E Other Features ................. 136 The Prayer Cry ............. 136 Feast ...................... I37 Final Address .............. 137 Conclusion of Rites ............. 137 Grand River Version ............ 138 Waubunos Version .............. I43 CHAPTER V11 The hlkingW or Mask .............. 146 Origin of the Mask and of the Big House ....................... I47 MIsingw Dance ..................