Feb., 191 2. The Oraibi Marau Ceremony — Voth. 29 



netted gourds eagle feathers only were tied. Pungnyanomsi made 

 seven nakwakwosis. Wickwaya then placed some meal on a tray, 

 handed some to each woman, meal and rattle to his sister and to Tal- 

 angosi, picked up his mosilili, said a short prayer and all then sang a 

 number of songs. At the conclusion Wickwaya prayed, all said, " Ask- 

 wali" (thanks), and placed the meal, which they had held in their hands, 

 on a tray over which Wickwaya and Qomaletstiwa then smoked. 

 Kiwanhoynoma and Sikangonsi tied some nakwakwosis to the mother 

 tiponis while Nasinyanoma placed some on hers. After the usual 

 spurting of honey by the singers Wickwaya distributed the nakwa- 

 kwosis from the tray as follows: 



Those from the north side to (name not recorded). 



Those from the west side to Talangosi. 



Those from the south and southwest to Qomahepnoma. 



Those from the east side to Nasingyanonoma. 



Those from the north-east side to Nakwahungka. 



These women deposited those prayer offerings towards the four 

 cardinal points around the village. Upon examining two of these 

 places I found on the west side of the village four turkey feather and 

 five eagle feather nakwakwosis, two cakes, and two turkey feather 

 puhus. The places on the north and the east side I did not investigate. 

 When I returned to the kiva all sat on the floor in an oblong circle, 

 making many nakwakwosis, mostly of turkey feathers, for their de- 

 parted parents, children and other relatives. All were very solemn. 

 These offerings are carried out later in the day and the Hopi believe 

 that the dead tie them to a string around their head so that they hang 

 down before their faces. 



These offerings were all placed in a large tray, which was set on the 

 floor in front of the altar. The usual consecration singing ceremony 

 then took place. After a short recess the women went to their houses 

 to get food for the evening meal. Qotchnomsi and her assistant placed 

 a large bowl on the elevated part of the floor west of the ladder and 

 the first knelt on the north, the latter on the south side of the bowl. 

 Each woman that brought in some food threw a little pinch of each 

 dish into the bowl. When all had brought in their food they arranged 

 themselves on the east side of the deeper portion of the kiva and waited 

 in silence. Wickwaya took his mosilili and the tray with the nakwa- 

 kwosis to the two women and handed a piece of a herb to his sister who 

 threw it into the bowl. All the other women arranged themselves 

 around their food bowls and trays, which they had placed on the floor 

 in the deeper portion of the kiva. Wickwaya now commenced to sing 

 and to shake his rattle. The two women added corn-meal to the 



