128 Field Museum of Natural History — Anth., Vol. XI. 



THE WINTER CEREMONY OF THE BLUE FLUTE 



SOCIETY. 



January 20, 1898. 



This ceremony took place on January 20th, 1898, in the Sakwalanve 

 (Blue Flute) kiva, where all the -winter ceremonies of this fraternity 

 take place. Lomahungyoma was the leader of the ceremony. 



Besides the ceremony Anga-Katcina masks, moccasins, etc., were 

 painted and costumes prepared in the kiva for a Katcina dance that 

 evening. 



The men that came in always first smoked awhile near the fireplace. 

 Lomahungyoma, who alone wore a ceremonial kilt, made five double 

 green bahos. All the men who took part in the ceremony made a num- 

 ber of nakwakwosis which were placed on a tray with the bahos. When 

 all had finished their nakwakwosis the tray was placed on the floor in 

 the northern part of the kiva, and eleven men gathered around it and 

 sang, but I could not follow this ceremony as I wanted to get the Drab 

 Flute Ceremony complete. When I came in again they were smoking, 

 and each one took some honey which he spurted on the tray after he 

 had smoked. The bahos and nakwakwosis were then carried out and 

 deposited outside the village. As I followed the first man (to the north) , 

 I could not ascertain how many men went, but I think five. The man 

 whom I accompanied put down the baho first, then the nakwakwosis 

 (a good many) in front of it, and in front of the nakwakwosis a puhtavi 

 and along that and towards the sun he sprinkled some sacred meal. 



The noonday meal was then partaken of, after which a singing 

 ceremony took place in the north-east corner of the kiva, four of the 

 men sitting on the floor along the north and four along the east ban- 

 quette. Before them stood a tray with meal and I believe some more 

 prayer offerings, and also a long eagle wing feather. 



The eight men had each a mossilili (cone shell rattle) except one who 

 had a long buzzard feather. On the west banquette stood seven Flute 

 players, three of whom were boys. A number of songs were sung, ac- 

 companied by playing. Lomahungyoma whistled at short intervals 

 with a short bone whistle. I do not think that anyone had a kilt or 

 any other ceremonial costume on except Lomahungyoma. I could not 

 see the termination of the ceremony, but from analogy I am sure, that 

 at the conclusion of the singing and playing smoking took place. It is 

 also my opinion, that some of the prayer offerings, made in this cere- 

 mony, were taken to some more distantly located sun shrines, especially 

 to those on a mesa a few miles east of Oraibi. 



