Kumeyaay - Boy's Adolescence Ceremony
By : Carol Banegas
Kumeyaay
Much information about the Boys Adolescence Ceremony is from T.T. Waterman who spent time with the Kumeyaay Indians in the early 1900's.
The Kumeyaay puberty or "Toloche" ceremony for boys is very similar to the Luiseno puberty ceremony, in fact some of the songs have Luiseno words. This ceremony is in all essence an initiation. The participants are given a special drink "Kusi." This is an intoxication extract. Outsiders are never allowed to take part in the ceremony, most likely because the initiation brings shaman powers to those involved. Dancing on fire and killing an eagle by magic are some of the secrets passed on to the initiates.
The Kumeyaay prepare the root by pounding it in a mortar. then the powder is put on a flat basket and hot water is poured over it. the liquid falls into a deep basket. Small cups are dipped into the basket and given to the boys to drink.
The boys are then led to a fire where the people have gathered. Each boy is met by an old man who acts as a sponsor and take charge of the boy. The sponsors guide their charge through the ceremony and instruct them how to dance. Together they dance in a circle until the drug takes effect and they can dance no longer. The boys are then led out of the circle and allowed to sleep off the effects. At this point the boys are to experience a vision or dream which will be significant throughout their life. upon waking the next morning the boys are given large quantities of warm water to rid the body of the toxins. Death could result if this is not done. After they swim the boys are painted black signifying long life. White clay is chewed and blown on the boys by some of the men.
The boys then fast for a day and in the evening are offered a bowl of sage-seed mush to eat, but as each boy reaches for the bowl it is quickly pulled away from him as the men yell "awi, awi" (rattlesnake, rattlesnake). Unless the boy is fast enough to grab a fist full he continues the fast until the next morning. For the next six days no meat is allowed and they are given limited amounts of mush.
The first day after the drugging the boys are extremely ill and are allowed to rest but on the second day the boys are led to a different enclosure. With instruction the boys dance all night and at day break they are led to a house where they are fed and put to sleep. This continues until the sixth day. Three days into the ceremony powered soap stone is used to paint stripes on the boys. The stripes are painted on the chest, cover the sholders and around the back. One side of the face is painted white and the other side is painted red. The feet are also striped black and white for the first week and then white and red afterwards.
Food is given in increased amounts after the first three days. They are fed unsalted acorn or sage-seed mush. After a month the boys are taken to a creek where each one is carefully deloused. For the next month the first half of the night is spent dancing. The initiates are given all the acorn mush they can eat. The fasting which was done at the beginning of the initiation is done to get the boys used to getting along in the after life on little food.
The boys are given a stick by their sponsor. The stick can be painted and decorated with abalone shell. Along with this they are given a plume of an owl or crow feathers.
A sand painting is created during the ceremony. Animals such as coyote, wolf, bear, and black spider (tarantula) are often in these pictures. At the end of the ceremony a small hole is dug in the painting. One by one the boys come and stand over the hole and spit in it. If they miss the hole it is a sign that they will not live very long.
At the conclusion of the ceremony a net figure about 5 or 6 feet long is placed in the bottom of a pit. Three stones are placed in the pit bottom and each boy is then placed in the pit. He must jump from one stone to the next without missing. If he fails to land on the stone his family cries because it is their belief that he will die very soon. The net figure is buried and everyone dances throughout the night.