Dec. 1901. The Oraibi Powamu Ceremony — Voth. 109 



to the kiva, where the Powamu priest placed the vessel and the 

 whistle near the altar. 



At about three o'clock the last evening ceremony takes place, 

 which is exactly the same as the other days. As soon as this is con- 

 cluded the altar is dismantled and the various parts tied up in 

 bundles,* the men take off their nakwaita (the feather that they have 

 tied to the hair during the ceremonies) and place them near the fire- 

 place. They are later deposited in a shrine about one hundred yards 

 south of the village called Homolovi. 



After the altar has been taken down all who have participated in 

 the ceremony assemble in the kiva, take off the left moccasin, form 

 in a semicircle around the fireplace and each one takes some ashes in 

 his left hand. The Powamu priest takes an eagle wing feather in his 

 left and some ashes in his right hand, sprinkling some of the ashes 

 on the feather and beats time with it to the singing of the nawohchi 

 tawi (purification or discharming song) in which all join. This song 

 has six verses, and at the end of each verse the Powamu priest 

 brushes the ashes from the feather towards the hatchway, all the 

 others circling their right hand before themselves and throwing the 

 ashes, which they hold between the thumb and forefinger, and also at 

 the same time spitting in the same direction. After the sixth time 

 they all beat and rub off the ashes from their hands and bodies, blow 

 the ashes from their hands and they are then considered to be puri- 

 fied of the peculiar charm or "taboo" of the Popwamu.f A sumptu- 

 ous supper, in which they may now partake of any kind of food 

 again, follows, and after a general smoke the tired participants in the 

 ceremony take a short rest to gather strength for the Powamu dance 

 that takes place during the following night and in which almost the 

 entire village participates. 



♦The sand ridge, the four natsi sticks, the bahos and the medicine bowl remain until the 

 following day. 



tEvery secret order among the Hopi has its special punishment which is supposed to be 

 visited upon any uninitiated who should happen to see any of the sacred things belonging to that 

 order, especially the altar, or be charmed or influenced by any of the members while they are 

 "taboo. "The punishment or special charm of the Snake order is a swelling, especially of the abdo- 

 men, that of the Soyal order sore ears, of the OaqOltu a horn-like swelling on top of the head, of the 

 Mamzrautu deafness, the Lalakontu a peculiar eczema on the upper part of the body, of the Aahltu 

 a twisting and twitching of the face and neck, of the Momchitu a soreness in the bronchial tubes 

 and of the Popwamu a swelling of the knee-pan (tatKotspdltingivu) and contraction of the tendons 

 about the knee. These intiictions may occur not only during the time when a ceremony is on, but 

 at any time. The priest of the particular order is then called and he is supposed to be able to dis- 

 charm the patient. Only a few days ago an old man in Oraibi had a sore knee and the Powamu 

 priest treated it by applying hot stones and singing over it the nawohchi tawi (purifying or dis- 

 charming song), which will be found at the end of this paper (see p. 148). 



