GIFFORD1940-010 - ethnographic attestation
It would not sound in public
United States - Little Colorado River - Leupp, Arizona - North America
Restricted
Source term: bull-roarer
The rule enforced itself. Small Man, who gave Gifford the Western Navajo list from the Little Colorado country around Leupp, said the bullroarer there belonged to shamans and was kept out of sight — and that if anyone used it before the public, it would simply refuse to sound. The blade was eight inches by an inch and a half, its edges notched, on a two-foot cord looped at the end with no grip stick to hold. Apache neighbours in the same survey whirled theirs openly at dances. This one was made to be heard and not seen.
WN not sound if used in public.
Gifford 1940:152, note to element 2213.
- Object
- Blade about 8 by 1.5 inches with notched edges, whirled on a two-foot cord ending in a loop, without a grip stick.
- Function
- A shaman's instrument, kept out of sight and held not to sound if used in public.
- Source
- Gifford 1940 WN column, notes 2209 and 2213; Small Man's list
- Source location
- pp. 2, 58-59, 151-152
- Source confidence
- medium Leupp/Little Colorado regional source anchor.