Dec. 1901. The Oraibi Powamu Ceremony — Voth. 73 



moon until the moon "dies," that is, until another new moon appears, 

 constitutes a month. The period which corresponds approximately 

 to our month of February is called Powamuya.* In this month, the 

 beginning of which sometimes overlaps with the last days of January, 

 the Powamu ceremony takes place. Whether the month derived its 

 name from the ceremony, or vice versa, I cannot say, but the informa- 

 tion thus far obtained on this point justifies the belief that the former 

 alternative is the case. Following are the dates when the ceremonies 

 took place in the years observed : 



PowALAwu. Powamu. 



In 1894 February 4 February 13-21 



In 1895 Not recorded February 3-1 1 



In 1896 February 14 February 22 to 



March 2 



In 1897 February i February 9-17 



In 1898 January 23 February 2-10 



In 1899 Not observed 



In 1900 Not observed 



In 1901 January 20 January 30 to 



February 7 



4. POWALAWU, THE INTRODUCTORY CEREMONY. 



About eight days prior to fhe beginning of the Powamu ceremony 

 proper an interesting one-day ceremony takes place, known as Powa- 

 lawu. It is still an open question with the writer whether this per- 

 formance should not be treated as an independent ceremony rather 

 than as a part of the Powamu celebration, and it may be found upon 

 further study that originally, at any rate, it was a distinct, independ- 

 ent ceremony. But the facts that other nine-day celebrations are 

 preceded by a short ceremony, f that most of the participants in 

 Powalawu also take part in Powamu, that the same leaders officiate in 

 both ceremonies, and, especially, that a close relation seems to exist 

 between the two, justify its treatment for the present as a part of and 

 introductory to the Powamu ceremony. 



Below are given the names and clan relations of the participants 

 in the years 1896, 1898 and 1901. In the other years I failed to 

 record the names, but they were nearly the same : 



*Frotn ^' potvatani," to put in proper shape, in order, or in proper condition, and vtuyawuu 

 month. 



tThis is usually called bahota-wu, and generally takes place in the evening; sometimes, how- 

 ever, as in the case of the Snalce and Antelope fraternities, in the morning. The announcement on 

 the next morning of the coming ceremony is called tingapng-wu, or sometimes simply chaalawu 

 <to cry out or announce). 



