NO. 2
��TEPECANO PRAYERS
��119
��who is our Father who here hath raised his plumes.
From there beneath the east where he belongeth, whence he, his father, did hither send our Golden Morning Star, he now cometh, reaching unto us his hand that we, wrapping ourselves in it, may go beholding through all hours. Thus do we beg thy pardon and thou must forgive us. Beneath these five beautiful heavens did he send his lightnings and his voice. From afar come the clouds beneath the east, the north, the west and the south, where wander and hearken his children. Here they arrived but nothing befell.
Thou wilt forgive us these few words, for we cannot teach thee more the Word of my Guide, my Morning Star, and my Father. For it remaineth within me, because I have not obeyed his commandment. Therefore I know not what I shall say unto thee; thou desirest it beautiful and clearly explained, but thus it cannot be. For in darkness I also grope, but nevertheless do I teach thee this fragment. Be not offended; thou must be gathered unto them who are our spirits. Thus only do I give thee to know; may God bless thee. Thou must guard the fire of our spirits who are seated round about on their pleasant seat in this their court. May God bless thee.
18. TO CURE THE SICK
adio's ino - 'k abimo napaptu'i'
To God, my Father. There that thou art
hoga navaric'ivgo - 'k o - 'hi
that which are seven beautiful
to'tvakdam naparicidu - 'kam
skies on that thou art treasure.
abimohodor napitumto-'f napitbai'vahi There from that thou didst thyself name that* thou didst hither already come
1 Probably incorrectly given; past prefix probably superfluous.
��hidi navarunrai'niGdam
this that is thy petate on.
already also do
��napitapdu' That thou didst*
��tuvolunta'd ku.i'na hidi mai'ndam thy will then here this petate on
kumu to'tvacdam kunapaitma-'k
as skies on. Then that thou us givest
umgo'gucdara voc to'nora"ba
thy succor all sun at.
��ia 1 umci'v api'ctun- Then thou (didst) 1 hither us will give now. Thou*
ha - 'gicda umta - 'giv vacitu'o-a
me wilt pardon thee before already will dance.
ku.i'ni apictunha'gicda porke
Then here thou me wilt pardon because
nicarici"krakam kupictunha- 'gicda
I am filthiness. Then thou me wilt pardon.
kupiamio'a'k'ta'ka nati.i'akia'
Then thou not us wilt permit that we shall fall.
apiamvi'ak'a hactudo'ko
Thou not wilt feel anything with
napasa'sa'rkadida api.io'a'giD'a voc that thou wilt go withdrawing. Thou us wilt send all
icko'k'dakam 2 ame'n
sickness. 2 Amen.
NOTE
Disease among the Tepecanos was com- monly treated by a priest-doctor by cere- monial and magic means. The patient is laid on his back, the doctor standing at his feet. He blows tobacco smoke to the four winds and recites one of several prayers in a low voice. Five puffs of smoke are then blown on the invalid's hands, feet and fore- head. The body is then stroked vigorously from the extremities to the center of pain and the latter is subjected to a vigorous suction. Thick spittle, blood, or a tangible object is extracted. The first is proof of affliction by a chan, a mythical water-serpent, the second of affliction by the spirits of the dead, the last of witchcraft. The object
1 Undoubtedly error for icxo'pitkam, THE COLD.
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