Religion and ceremonies of the Lenape

by M. R. Harrington

NEW YORK
MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
HEYE FOUNDATION
1921

RELIGION AND CEREMONIES
OF THE LENAPE

BY
M. R. HARRINGTON

CONTENTS

	PAGE
Preface	[13]
Chapter I
Pantheon	[17]
Supreme Being	[18]
Evil Spirit	[24]
Manĭʹtowŭk of the Four Directions	[25]
The Sun	[27]
The Moon	[28]
The Earth	[28]
Thunder Beings	[29]
Keepers of the Heavens	[31]
Mĭsinghâliʹkŭn, or Living Solid Face	[32]
Mother Corn	[43]
Chapter II
Minor Deities	[45]
Doll Being	[45]
Tornado	[47]
Snow Boy	[48]
Comet	[48]
Evil Manĭʹtowŭk	[49]
Animal Spirits	[49]
Plant Spirits	[51]
Local Genii	[51]
Chapter III
Survival 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]
Minsi Examples	[72]
Historical References	[77]
Brainerd	[77]
Zeisberger	[77]
Loskiel	[78]
Heckewelder	[78]
Adams	[80]
Chapter V
Unami Annual Ceremony	[81]
The Leader	[81]
Officers	[84]
Preparations	[85]
Ceremony Commenced	[87]
Chief’s Speech	[87]
Recital of Visions	[92]
Conclusion of Rites	[96]
Departure of the Hunters	[97]
Prayer for the Hunters	[99]
Return of the Hunters	[100]
New Fire	[101]
Use of Carved Drumsticks	[101]
Turtle Rattles	[103]
Phratry Prayers	[104]
Women’s Night	[105]
Conclusion of Ceremony	[106]
Payment of Attendants	[107]
Finale	[108]
Payment of Officers	[110]
Valuation of Wampum	[111]
Indian Comments on the Ceremony	[111]
Penn’s Account	[115]
Zeisberger’s Account	[116]
Adams’ Account	[118]
Another Form of the Annual Ceremony	[122]
Chapter VI
Minsi Big House Ceremonies	[127]
Myth of Origin	[127]
Number of Ceremonies	[128]
Arrangement of the Big House	[129]
Preliminaries	[132]
Fire	[132]
Purification	[133]
Opening of the Ceremony	[133]
Chief’s Speech	[133]
Ceremonial Drink	[134]
Recital of Visions	[135]
Other Features	[136]
The Prayer Cry	[136]
Feast	[137]
Final Address	[137]
Conclusion of Rites	[137]
Grand River Version	[138]
Waunbuno’s Version	[143]
Chapter VII
The Mĭsiʹngʷ‛ or Mask	[146]
Origin of the Mask and of the Big House	[147]
Mĭsiʹngʷ‛ Dance	[152]
Notification	[152]
Preparations	[153]
The Ceremony	[153]
Adams’ Account	[154]
Other Functions of Mĭsiʹngʷ‛	[156]
Masks of the Minsi	[158]
The Mask Society	[159]
Ceremonies	[159]
Chapter VIII
Minor Ceremonies	[162]
The Doll Being	[162]
Myth of Origin	[162]
Preparations for the Ceremony	[163]
The Doll Dance	[164]
Minsi Doll Ceremony	[166]
An Old Minsi Doll	[168]
An Early Account of Naniʹtĭs	[169]
Bear Ceremony	[171]
Traditional Origin	[172]
Preparations	[172]
The Rites	[174]
Otter Ceremony	[176]
Myth of Origin	[176]
The Ceremony	[179]
Buffalo Dance	[182]
Imported Ceremonies	[183]
Skeleton Dance	[183]
Peyote Rite	[185]
Paraphernalia	[186]
Officers	[188]
Conduct of the Ceremony	[188]
Ghost Dance	[190]
Chapter IX
Summary	[192]
Religion	[192]
Ceremonies	[196]
Minor Ceremonies	[198]
Notes	[201]
Index	[206]