1 46 Harshberger. — Maize 



two white feathers in its end. A member of the fish tribe 

 (Thlot-lo-ul-go) takes it just as the sun goes down, and moves 

 off toward the river, all following him. When half way to 

 the river he gives the death whoop. This he repeats four 

 times between the square and the water's edge. Here they 

 all locate themselves as close together as they can stand. 

 The cane is stuck up at the water's edge, and they all put a 

 grain of old man's tobacco on their heads and in each ear. 

 At a given signal, four times repeated, they throw some of 

 this tobacco into the river, and every man upon a like signal 

 plunges into the stream and picks up four stones from the 

 bottom. With these they cross themselves four times on the 

 breast, each time throwing a stone into the river and giving 

 the death whoop. They then wash themselves, take up the 

 cane with the feather, return and stick it up in the square, 

 and visit through the town ; at night they dance the mad 

 dance, and this ends the ceremony." 



The Zufiians were divided into fifteen clans, organized 

 chiefly for social intercourse and amusement, which are of 

 very ancient origin. These clans corresponded in no way 

 with the division of the people into gentes. The corn clan 

 was especially sacred among the Zufiians. The Moquis and 

 Pueblo Indians of San Felipe, Santa Anna, Zia, Zemez, 

 Cochiti and Isleta had corn clans. 1 During the frequent 

 ceremonies carried on by this clan, the songs sung were in a 

 language long since lost. 2 



Cushing 3 has vividly described the dances of the Zuni, and 

 the important use that corn has played in all their mystic 

 ceremonies. He has described the mythological creation 

 and origin of corn as narrated by the Zufiians. " Yet, not 

 less precious was the gift of the seed people or Ta-a-kwe. 

 This was Tchu'-e-ton, or the medicine seed of corn, for from 

 this came the parents of flesh and beauty, the Solace of 

 Hunger, the Emblem of Birth, Mortal Life, Death and Immor- 

 tality. Born before our ancients had been other men, and 



1 Journ. Amer. Folk Lore, m, 1890. 



2 Smithson. Miscel. Col. Philos. Soc, Wash , iv, v ; Trans Anthrop. Soc, 

 xxv, 88- 



3 Cushing, Zuni Bread Stuffs, The Millstone, Indianapolis, Vol. IX, Jan, 1SS4. 



