Mystical animals

The mystical animals are among the medical societies of the Iroquois - Indians . The fraternities of this group try to preserve the goodwill of the "Medicine animals". According to their tradition, the animals entered the society together with the members. They showed people what ceremonies they like. If people performed the ceremonies correctly, the medical animals would continue to be at their service. They cure diseases, relieve pain, and move natural disasters elsewhere. Each member of society has their own song that they sing in the ceremony. The length of the ceremony corresponds to the number of members. When a new member joins society, they receive a pumpkin rattle and a song. It must handle these things with care. It must not forget the song and not lose the rattle. There are two leading singers who sing the dance song. During this song the medicine man takes a red-hot stone from the hut fire. He throws the stone from hand to hand. He demonstrates that he can see through the carved wooden mask that has no eye holes by finding various things inside the hut. And he impresses those present by bringing a doll to life or with other mysterious acts.

It is said that the Seneca inherited this bond from the Wyandot . At the end of the ceremony, members devour a pig's head by tearing the meat off its head with their teeth. They used to use a deer head in the past. Three masks are used in the ceremony: the conjurer's mask, the dual-spirit's mask, and the witch mask. The masks are never used in the rites of the false face society. Its masks differ from the three above-mentioned by the metallic eyes.

The following frets belong to the mythical animals:

• Otter Bund
• Eagle Bund
• Bear covenant
• Buffalo Bund

literature

• Arthur C. Parker: Secret Medicine Societies of the Seneca , in: American Anthropologist, Col. 11, 1909, pp. 161-185. New York: Kraus Reprint Corporation, 1962