THE PONKA
The Ponka tribal circle was divided equally between the Tcinju and Wajaje half-tribes. To the former belonged two phratries of two gentes each, i.e., numbers 1 to 4, inclusive, and to the latter two similar phratries, including gentes 5 to 8.
FIG. 36.—Ponka camping circle.
Tcinju half-tribe—Thunder or Fire phratry: Gens 1, Hisada, Legs-stretched-ont-stiff (refers to a dead quadruped); Thunder people. Gens 2, Touch-not-the-skin-of-a-black-bear. Wind-makers or War phratry: Gens 3, ¢ixida, Wildcat (in two subgentes: 1, Sinde-ag¢ĕ, Wears-tails, i.e., locks of hair; Naq¢e-it`ajĭ, Does-not-touch-charcoal; and Wascʇu-it`ajĭ, Does-not-tonch-verdigris. 2, Wami-it`ajĭ, Does-not-touch-blood). Gens 4, Nika-da-ɔna, "Bald human-head;" Elk people (in at least three subgentes: 1, ʇe-sĭnde-it`ajĭ, Does-not-touch-a-buffalo-tail; 2, ʇe ¢eze ¢atajĭ, Does-not-eat-buffalo-tongues; 3, ʇaqti kĭ Anpan ¢atajĭ, Does-not-eat-deer-and-elk).
Wajaje half-tribe—Earth phratry: Gens 5, Maʞan, Medicine, a buffalo gens, also called ʇe-sĭnde it`ajĭ, Does-not-touch-buffalo-tails (in two subgentes: 1, Real Ponka, Keepers-of-a-sacred-pipe; 2, Gray Ponka). Gens 6, Wacabe, Dark buffalo (in two subgentes: 1,[pg 229] Buffalo tail, or,ʇe-¢eze ¢atajĭ, Does-not-eat-buffalo-tongues, or ʇe-jiñga ¢atajĭ, Does-not-eat-a-very-young-buffalo-calf; 2, ʇe-da it`ajĭ, Does-not-touch-a-buffalo-head or skull). Water phratry (?): Gens 7, Wajaje, Osage (in two subgentes at present: 1, Dark Osage, Keepers-of-a-sacred-pipe, or Waseʇu-it`ajĭ, Does-not-touch-verdigris, or Naq¢e-it`ajĭ, Does-not-touch-charcoal; 2, Gray Osage, or Wĕs`ă wet`ajĭ, Does-not-touch-serpents; 3, Necta, an Owl subgens, now extinct). Gens 8, Nuqe, Reddish-yellow buffalo (miscalled Nuxe, Ice). Subgentes uncertain, but there are four taboo names: Does-not-touch-a-Buffalo-head (or skull), Does-not-touch-a-buffalo-calf, Does-not-touch-the-yellow-hide-of-a-buffalo-calf, and Does-not-eat-buffalo-tongues.