SOME GAMES OF THE ZTJNI. 



47 



Kle-tak-wa (Rabbit-hunt). Communal hunts seem at one time 

 to have been held by many of the Indian tribes, and are described 

 by the early Spaniards. Many of them were nothing less than a 

 wholesale slaughter. Whether the Zuhis ever indulged in them 

 to that extent I am unable to say, but I saw a fence about fifteen 

 miles to the southeast of Zuni which, I was told, extended for 

 seventy-five miles, and was formerly used to direct the herds of 

 antelope to a certain place. The presence of the fence suggests 

 the possibility that formerly such hunting expeditions may have 

 taken place there, as Livingstone describes in southern Africa. 

 The rabbit-hunts are described by the early Spanish chroniclers, 

 and are still held by at least the Zunis and Moquis. Undoubtedly 

 at one time they had a considerable religious significance, but to- 

 day they have more the nature of a frolic. 



The Zuhis have eight rabbit-hunts a year four by the Coyote 

 people and four by the Eagle people. The time of holding them is 

 fixed by the chief of the rabbit-hunts. Although held under the 

 especial direction of particular clans, yet nearly all the male in- 

 habitants take part. I will describe the one in which I took part 

 last August. 



/ 



\ 



^% -AW 



Sf 



Fig. 3. The Start fur the Rabbit- hunt. 



One evening about sundown I heard the herald (as is the cus- 

 tom of this people) announcing something from the top of the 

 pueblo. Upon inquiry, I learned that there would be a rabbit- 



