148 Field Museum of Natural History — Anth., Vol. XL 



Kiwanhongka, Ishawuu (Bear) clan, opened bride's hair. 



Motooma, Ishawuu (Bear) clan, groom. 



Tobangyamsi, Ishawuu (Coyote) clan, bride. 



We proceeded to the house at four a. m. The mother and the 

 grandmother of the bride (the latter on the mother's side) just arrived. 

 The inhabitants of the house were still abed, but all said that they had 

 been waiting for us. The bride slept at the home of the parents (step- 

 parents in this case) of her future husband, where she had been taken 

 by her mother thiee days previously, and had ground corn during that 

 time. Pungnyanomsi, the groom's aunt (mother) at once got some 

 sticks of wood from outside and built a fire in the fire-place in one of 

 the corners of the room, another fire having already been built in 

 the stove. Both mothers then took their places near the fire-place 

 where they commenced to make suds in two large bowls of yucca 

 plant roots that were first mashed by stones, Nasingyaonom and 

 the sister of Pungnyanomsi taking a place beside them. Several of the 

 women were sitting on the west wall, near the stove. While the two 

 women were preparing the suds, Kiwanhongka opened the bride's 

 hair. At about half past four Motooma came in. The couple then 

 knelt on a pelt before the two bowls, the bride before the bowl of her 

 future mother-in-law, and the groom before that of his future mother- 

 in-law. The two women then commenced to wash the heads of the 

 couple, but in this all the women participated. Usually the hair 

 of the young couple is then washed thoroughly together in each bowl, 

 and this hair washing, and especially the washing of the two heads in 

 the same bowl, is said to be the "crucial moment" in which the two are 

 supposed to "become one." In this case, as also in others where the 

 groom's hair had been cut, this mutual washing was dispensed with, 

 which caused some remarks, teasing and laughter, and the suggestion 

 whether he could really be considered as having been married. After 

 they were through, another woman came in and the bridegroom had 

 to come forward and submit to another washing. He was in his usual 

 working clothes and the bride was robed in an atoe (white ceremonial 

 blanket with red and blue border). 



When they were through the young man seated himself on the 

 west side of the room quite a little distance from the stove, while the 

 bride seated herself behind and close to the stove. Pungnyanomsi 

 got a bowl into which the suds were poured and carried it out later 

 on. There were present in all about eleven women, the husband 

 of Pungnyanomsi being the only man present. The father of the 

 bride usually does not come until later. 



After the bowls had been emptied and fresh water poured into them 



