INTRODUCTION. 



The description of the Oraibi Winter and Summer Marau Cere- 

 monies, given in this volume, is the result of several partial observations 

 in different years. As the author had to make these investigations 

 almost entirely alone, and the ceremonies are sometimes going on day 

 and night, it is a physical impossibility for one man to make an ex- 

 haustive study of a nine-day (and night) ceremony at one time. But 

 such a protracted study of the same ceremony, on different occasions, 

 has the advantage to enable the student to make comparisons and to 

 not only fill up gaps, but also to corroborate observations made on 

 previous occasions. On the other hand, such interrupted studies 

 have this disadvantage, that the participants are not the same in the 

 various ceremonies, so that certain priests, or other participants, per- 

 forming certain particular rites, cannot so easily be referred to by name. 

 In this instance, however, the leaders and other principal participants 

 were, with a few exceptions, the same in the different ceremonies that 

 were observed. 



The Mamzrautu, (Marau Society), is a woman's fraternity and 

 in Oraibi has its own kiva, or underground ceremonial and working 

 chamber (see Plate I, Frontispiece). But, as is the case with all 

 women's societies, a number of men also belong to this order, who 

 perform certain functions and control certain sacred objects in all the 

 ceremonies. 



As to the meaning of the term "Marau" I am not sure that I have 

 been able to settle it, even to my own satisfaction. The chief priest 

 Wickwaya l (see Plate II) and others insisted, that it was derived 

 from a small beetle, maraubiwich-hoya. But just what the origin 

 was of the connection between this small insect and a great Hopi 

 ceremony, or the reason therefore, he either could not, or would not, 

 tell. But the cordial relation, that existed between him and myself 

 for years, and the willingness with which he gave me other information 

 asked for, leads me to believe that he did not know himself. He 

 once told me, with great satisfaction, that years ago, one of these 



1 The chief priest, Wickwaya. whose name is so often mentioned in these papers, has since em- 

 braced the Christian religion, and surrendered his position as chief priest in the Marau fraternity a 

 number of years ago, his half brother Homihoiniwa succeeding him. The latter conducted the 

 ceremony for the first time in 1003. 



II 



