FEWKES: INITIATION AT HANO 155 



and spoke to those above. Immediately there followed him 

 down the ladder the two personators of the Sky-god, and a man 

 dressed as an old woman. These three made a circuit around 

 the fire hole six times, after which the earth woman personator 

 holding the basket of meal and whips, took position near the 

 bottom of the ladder, and the two Sky-gOds stood, one on each 

 side of the rectangular meal figure on the kiva floor. The latter 

 then began a rapid dance bending and swaying their bodies and 

 shouting to the assembled spectators. Each was then handed 

 one of the yucca whips, previously prepared as mentioned above, 

 after which they resumed their dancing, calling out loudly for 

 the children to come and be flogged. In a short time a woman 

 led forward a girl about 11 years old, whose garment had been 

 semoved from her back, and placed her within the square out- 

 lined with meal. One of the Sky-gods immediately struck the 

 bared back with the yucca wand several times, all the while con- 

 tinuing to dance and shout. He than passed to the other side 

 exchanging places with his companion and the foster mother 

 bared her back and was flogged as her child had been before her. 

 The two Sky-gods again exchanged places, and whips, as yet un- 

 used, were given to them, after which a man, possibly a father, 

 led a boy forward, both stepping inside the rectangle of meal. 

 The boy was first flogged on the back in the same manner as the 

 little girl, and the father was struck several times also on legs 

 and arms. As each person entered the space occupied by the 

 meal figure he took a pinch of meal and, raising it to his lips, 

 threw it toward the Sky-god, uttering an inaudible prayer. The 

 flogging continued until four children, and as many foster par- 

 ents, or the men and women accompanying the children, had 

 been treated in this way. Generally the punishment was re- 

 ceived by the children without a flinch, but one of the girls was 

 frightened. The Sky-god was lenient, simply whirling his whip 

 over her head, without striking. 



At the close of the flogging of initiates, other children, mostly 

 boys, not initiates, voluntarily came forward and stood with 

 backs bared for the whips. They were struck, oftentimes rather 

 severely. Then adults, one after another, including the old 



