THE ORAIBI MARAU CEREMONY 



Second Part 

 THE SUMMER CEREMONY 



i. Baholawu, or Introductory Ceremony. 



This brief ceremony was observed only once in September, 1901, 

 and only brief notes were made. It took place in the forenoon. The 

 chief priest, Wickwaya, his sister and a few other women assembled in 

 the Marau kiva. Wickwaya made six double green and six single 

 black prayer sticks (bahos), and six nakwakwosis. These were made, 

 as far as I could ascertain, for the deities of the six world quarters, 

 north, west, south, east, above and below. He furthermore prepared 

 one baho for the sun and two for Sotukvnangwuu (Deity of Thunder), 

 the latter being deposited in the same shrine with the sun baho. 



The women, as far as I could learn, prepared a nakwakwosi for 

 each world quarter and one, each, for the sun and the moon. These 

 prayer offerings were placed on a tray, some prayer-meal sprinkled 

 on them and then two songs were chanted over the tray. After this 

 Wickwaya solemnly smoked by the side of the tray, blowing the smoke 

 on the prayer offerings which were, hereupon, deposited at different 

 places around the village. 



2. The Ceremonies in the Kiva. 



First Day (Shush ka himuu, once not anything). 



Early in the morning of this day the natsi or standard of the society 

 is placed at the south end of the kiva entrance (see Plate IV, a). The 

 altar paraphernalia are brought into the kiva from the house in which 

 they are kept, some time after sunrise and a pinch of meal sprinkled 

 on them. The assistant chief, Navini, gets the necessary sand for the 

 altar ridge and places it on the floor in the north end of the kiva. Soon 

 the eight women, who are to participate in the altar ceremonies as 

 leaders from day to day, begin to come into the kiva, bringing with 

 them a white ear of corn which they call their "mother." The chief 

 priestess and her assistant have tied to their hair, on top of the head, 



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