Note 94 — COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PLAINS PEYOTISM

Petrullo, Diabolic Root, 50, 101, 113. The symbolism of twelve of the Caddo here is clearly a Delaware borrowing; cf. the twelve panels in the Big Moon altars, the twelve eagle feathers, and the twelve sticks of the fire. See Speck, Delaware Big House, for the symbolism of twelve (twelve “heavens” etc.; cf. the twelve steps in the altar apron of the Wilson moon). Petrullo says the twelve sticks represent the months of the year or the tail-feathers of the eagle.