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



at the fireplace, while Wickwaya and Navini spurted honey over the 

 altar and around themselves and up the ladder. 



After a brief period of rest all began to make bahos and nakwa- 

 kwosis, while some women had to spin some cotton string first for that 

 purpose. On one occasion it was noticed here that the old priestess 

 gave to each woman a roll of white piki, which, however, they did not 

 eat as they were supposed to fast on this day. The exact number 

 and kind of bahos and nakwakwosis could not be accurately recorded. 

 On one occasion I noticed that Pungnyanomsi (No. i) prepared a double 

 green baho, about fourteen inches long and another one about six 

 inches long ; to the first she fastened a small crook which she also painted 

 green. She also prepared a number of eagle nakwakwosis and a long 

 piihu (road), i. e., a long twisted cotton string to one end of which a 

 bunch of different kinds of small feathers are fastened. My notes — 

 which had to be written rapidly — do not state to which of the two 

 bahos this road was attached, but in all probability to the long one. 

 She then constructed on a flat tray a square baho stand of clay eight 

 or ten inches long, about five inches wide and about two inches high, 

 the four sides sloping so that it was larger at the bottom than at the 

 top. This she sprinkled liberally with meal and then thrust the two 

 bahos into it, one near each end. The long road was folded up and 

 placed on top of the stand, the nakwakwosis beside it on the tray. 



Usually initiations of new members take place on this day. A 

 moho-ngola (yucca ring) is prepared for this purpose, consisting of 

 one, or sometimes a number of strands (usually four) of split yucca 

 leaves which are tied together by the ends at four places so that the 

 ring consists of four lengths, or sections. As soon as a candidate for 

 initiation enters or is brought in, (for they are mostly small children), 

 a circle of meal is strewn in the south-east corner of the deeper portion 

 of the kiva with a pinch of meal in the centre. The yucca ring is put 

 on the meal ring. The candidate steps, or is placed, into this circle, 

 holding a little meal in the right hand. Two priestesses then raise 

 and lower the yucca ring four times, expressing a wish or prayer that 

 the novice may grow old and be happy. The novice then goes, or if 

 too young, is taken to the altar where they sprinkle the meal towards 

 the altar. They are then given a white ear of corn and the typical 

 Marau nakwa, of two small sparrow hawk feathers, is tied to their hair. 

 When not in use the moho-ngola hangs on the wall east of the ladder. 



Another peculiar object is made on this day only. It consists of 

 a cone of clay, about ten inches high and six inches in diameter at the 

 base. Usually two women make this cone. One of them takes two 

 ears of corn from a tray, rasps one over the other four times and then 



