Sacred item worn by Apache medicine men
The izze-kloth or medicine cord is a sacred cord worn by Apache medicine men that is believed to confer strength and special powers of healing to the wearer. The "izze-kloth" is usually made from strands of animal hide and its length is punctuated with beads and shells. Often, an "izze-kloth" has four strands, each dyed a different color (usually, yellow, blue, white and black).
Etiquette.
The "izze-kloth" holds great sacred symbolism and people regarded as unbelievers in the cord are almost never permitted to view, touch or discuss it. Nineteenth-century ethnological reports on Native American beliefs often commented on the difficulty in understanding the purpose and use of the "izze-kloth" because ""the Apache look upon these cords as so sacred that strangers are not allowed to see them, much less handle them or talk about them"."
References.
 ;templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" / ;