Jink, 1902. Thk Mishongnovi Ceremonies — Dorsev. 219 



and Sikanakpu were engaged in carding and spinning cotton for the 

 manufacture of various bahos and nakwakwosis. 



At about half-past four in the afternoon Lomanakshu began plac- 

 ing the Snake kiva in order, cleaning it and sweeping it. Notwith- 

 standing the fact that the fourth and final ceremonial hunt to the 

 fourth world quarter had ended on the previous day, yet, certain of 

 the priests spent this day in hunting in the plains below the village, 

 although the hunt on this day does not form a prescribed part of the 

 ceremony and no particular quarter is selected. It seemed that five 

 of the men had been out early in the afternoon of this day unobserved 

 and they now returned at about five o'clock, coming up over the trail 

 at the southeast of the village. They dropped their digging sticks 

 and rabbit sticks as usual at the kiva hatchway, and entering deposited 

 the bags east of the sack of snake whips. Lomanakshu at once sat 

 down to the east of the fireplace, removed his shirt and began smok- 

 ing. Luke, who seemed to have been the leader of this particular 

 hunt, now passed his hands over the bags and located the rattle- 

 snakes, of which there proved to be four. Opening these bags, one 

 at a time, and laying them on the floor, he gently shook the base of 

 the bag, whereupon the snake in each case darted out of the bag and 

 as it started to crawl away was picked up by Choshnimtiwa and forced 

 into the jar, as has already been described. A second rattlesnake to 

 appear seemed greatly enraged as it escaped from the snake bag and 

 began rattling at a furious rate, which seemed to amuse young Chosh- 

 nimtiwa and two other much younger boys who watched it for a 

 moment, apparently with delight, and then the youngest of the three, 

 a boy not possibly over nine years old, with a deliberate motion 

 picked the snake up with one hand and removing the corn-cob stop- 

 per from the jar, with the other thrust it into the receptacle. The 

 fourth rattlesnake to appear came out from the jar tail first, by which 

 it was picked up. The fifth snake proved to be a very long racer, 

 which was placed in the water vessel, the last to be placed in posi- 

 tion. The boys who had been assisting in the transfer of the snakes 

 then took a spri^ of kuna, and taking water into their mouths washed 

 themselves as has been described. Lomanakshu continued smoking 

 at the hearth. 



In neither the Antelope nor the Snake kiva was any further cere- 

 mony enacted during the remainder of this day. As the priests came 

 and went from both kivas they would take a place near the hearth for a 

 few moments and smoke; while in the Antelope kiva the carding and 

 spinning of wool was continued into the afternoon. The men, as 

 usual, ate their evening meal in the kiva, and all were expected to 



