Feb., 191 2. The Oraibi Marau Ceremony — Voth. 61 



south, but I do not believe that this was omitted intentionally. The 

 men probably did not happen to have that color. It will also be 

 noticed that apparently no regularity as to the arrangement of the 

 colors was observed. The fact that this costume had not been 

 made and used for many years, and that the men who made it 

 were inexperienced, probably accounts for some of the irregular- 

 ities. 1 



The men furthermore tied many twigs of green cotton, fresh melon 

 and squash vines, small corn-stalks, etc., to cotton strings and many 

 nakwakwosis to the vines, to be used the next day by the so-called 

 "Rabbit Mother" for her costume. 



At about noon four, sometimes five, women place the following 

 objects on the floor east of the fireplace: The four pyramid-shaped 

 headdresses, the two bows with the eight arrows, the two long sticks, 

 the two wheels, the bunch of vines and the two wrist protectors. Be- 

 tween these is placed a medicine bowl, the usual six meal lines, north, 

 west, south, east, north-east (above) and south-west (below), which 

 run to a common centre, first being made. The women squat around 

 these objects, one of them takes the two short bow sticks that had been 

 lying on the east side of the altar, another the two that had been lying 

 on the west side, and also an ear of corn. A third and fourth woman, 

 each take one of the sticks with the little wheels that are leaning 

 against the arms of the figurines during the ceremonies. If more 

 women participate they hold an ear of corn in their hand. These 

 women now sing rather quietly several songs, beating time on the kiva 

 floor with the end of the sticks, and occasionally dipping them into the 

 medicine bowl and then asperging with them. The object of the 

 singing is evidently to consecrate these articles (see Plate XVI, b). 

 When the singing is over the objects are all placed near the altar which 

 the chief priest has in the meantime reconstructed (see Plate XIII). 

 Several other special objects had been prepared in the meantime; 

 among others a small ring into which were thrust four artificial flowers 

 and a number of fuzzy eagle feathers; 2 and also a blue shirt, both to 

 be worn by one of the priestesses the next day. Wick way a has also 

 made the usual bahos and nakwakwosis (see Plate XXX), for 

 the offering at the spring in the afternoon. He probably makes the 

 usual offerings for the sun too, but that was not specially noted as the 

 preparations of special paraphernalia kept the observer fully occupied 

 during the forenoon hours. When all these special objects are com- 

 pleted the remaining vines are taken out ; any ears that may be on the 



' See also the first footnote on page 45. 



1 Similar head ornaments are worn by the flute players in the Flute ceremony and others. 



