June, 1902. The Mishongnovi Ceremonies — Dorsey. 193 



Active preparations were begun by many of the priests for the 

 coming hunt. Those who had not previously done so began to dis- 

 robe, loosened their hair, which was combed out carefully by means 

 of native brushes. It was curious to note the change in the spirit of 

 the men each morning as they began making preparations for the 

 hunt. While directing their attention to the consecration of the 

 nakwakwosis, silence and a spirit of seriousness pervaded the kiva. 

 Now, however, the tension was broken and the men talked freely 

 among themselves, laughing and joking without restraint. The food 

 bowls were gathered up into one pile and put away in a corner on 

 the platform and the kiva was placed in order. Lomanakshu then 

 distributed to the new-comers who had not been present on the snake 

 hunt of the previous day a nakwakwosi, which each tied in his hair. 

 Then, as before, some of the younger priests began arranging bundles 

 of food which had been brought in for the journey, while Lomanakshu 

 gathered native tobacco and pipes, which he made into a bundle and 

 swung around his hips, tying the strings of the bundle in front of him. 

 Some of the other priests also took up from the large sack of native 

 tobacco a handful together with corn husks for cigarettes. It is inter- 

 esting, in this connection, to note that a white visitor to the kiva had 

 deposited a large sack of American tobacco as a peace-offering. 

 His advances, however, had not been accepted, and he was not 

 permitted again to enter the kiva. His offering of tobacco was 

 permitted to remain, however, in the position in which he had 

 placed it by the fireplace. On this morning one of the men 

 began opening the sack, evidently for the purpose of taking some 

 of the tobacco with him on the hunt, but he was severely repri- 

 manded by the chief priest and returned the sack to its original 

 position. 



After all had had their faces painted in the usual manner and 

 had daubed two streaks of red down the breast to the waist, each man 

 selected a snake whip from the pile, while Lomanakshu turned over 

 the snake bags, looking for those which were in perfect condition, 

 which he distributed among the Snake priests. He also distributed 

 to those to whom he had not previously given them small bags con- 

 taining sacred meal. At fifteen minutes after eleven o'clock they 

 slowly filed out of the kiva with Lomanakshu at the head of the pro- 

 cession, taking up their digging sticks as they gained the hatchway 

 and forming in line until all were ready. It was noticed this morn- 

 ing that, in addition to the digging sticks, there were many putskohos 

 (rabbit sticks) present. The entire Snake Fraternity, twenty in num- 

 ber, including several small boys, were present for this morning's 



