GIFFORD1940-004 - ethnographic attestation
The sickness circuit, east to north
United States - Ligaishak - Mogollon Rim, Arizona - North America
Sacred / spirit
Source term: bull-roarer
When sickness was everywhere, one man went out to meet it. A Southern Tonto shaman of the sixth semiband, in the Apache country below the Mogollon Rim, travelled in order toward the east, then the south, then the west, then the north, whirling the bullroarer at each turn to drive the illness away. The same ten-inch blade, carried on three and a half feet of cord in a small pouch at the belt, announced the masked gan when the Mountain Spirit dancers came — and outlived both offices as a toy in the hands of boys.
when much sickness, shaman went in order toward E, S, W, N and whirled bull-roarer to drive away
Gifford 1940:152, note to element 2215.
- Object
- Wooden blade about 10 by 2 inches on a cord about three and a half feet long, carried in a small belt pouch.
- Function
- Whirled by a shaman travelling east, south, west and north to drive away widespread sickness; also used to announce the masked gan, and used by boys as a toy.
- Source
- Gifford 1940, Southern Tonto column and notes 2214-2218
- Source location
- pp. 58-59, 151-152
- Source confidence
- medium Payson-Mogollon foothill anchor for Ligaishak territory.
- Toy / secular survival