Papago Indian: Pubery

After reading Ruth Underhill’s primary source, Papago Indian Religion it was surprising how the Papago treated their women during puberty. There was a ritual for girls during puberty, they were to stay in a hut for four days and abstained from taking cold baths, eating meat, grease, salt, and was not allowed to look at sun or fire. An example of a Menstruation hut was shown in Ruth Underhill's Papago Women, which is a book about the life of a Papago women in the early 1900's. During the time of a Papago women's first menstruation, it is thought that they establish tendencies that will remain throughout their entire lifetime. During the girls time in the hut, she must stay busy gathering water, wood, making baskets, and grinding corn.  During menstruation, if a male touched a female the Papago believed he could die. After the four days in the hut, a ceremony would occur and the girl would perform a dance that purified her from danger. It was interesting that the songs sang at the ceremony did not relate to the girl, but rather to the composer. An example shown in Underhill's book is shown below. The girls' puberty dance is no longer performed among Papago Indians.