June, 1902. The Mishongnovi Ceremonies — Dorsey. 227 



Again, a little later: 



Pangkakae uma yoshiya, owi hahlaikahkango, cukaokahkango, 

 nongaknani. 



[You over there, being arrayed (or dressed up), gladly, bravely 

 emerge now (for the race).] 



Before dawn and while it was still dark, on this morning, Poli- 

 hungwa ascended the ladder of the Antelope kiva and fastened across 

 the two poles of the ladder the bow or aodtnatsi of the Antelope Fra- 

 ternity. In a moment Lomanakshu, Chief Priest of the Snake Fra- 

 ternity, fastened the aodtnatsi of the Snake Fraternity in a similar 

 position on the ladder of the Snake kiva. 



The two natsis are very similar in general character, so that a 

 description of one with a notice of whatever differences there may 

 be in the other will suffice. The bow of the Antelope natsi (see PI. 

 XCVIII) was an ordinary bow such as is used to-day by the young 

 men and was without sinew backing. It measured two and one-half 

 feet in length and was provided with a twisted sinew string. As the 

 bow was placed on the ladder this string was downward, and from it 

 throughout its entire length was attached a fringe of horsehair. 

 Also from the sinew string and at fairly regular intervals were the 

 following objects, beginning at the left: A black skin with white 

 spots {pu/ic/ia, skunk skin), a black-tipped eagle feather fastened by 

 means of a short piece of sinew, a yellow weasel skin {^piwani), a 

 black skin, an eagle feather, a yellow skin, an eagle feather, a black 

 skin and a yellow skin. Above the sinew string with these pendants 

 and attached to the bow itself were two reed arrows, two feet in 

 length, the points being sharpened sticks about six inches in length. 

 The feathering of both arrows was much worn. The aodtnatsi of the 

 Snake fraternity, as has been stated, was in general similar to the one 

 just described. The two arrows, it was noted, had been made with 

 great care and, curiously, bore iron points and had the appearance of 

 being comparatively new. The bow with the sinew string was like 

 that of the Antelope natsi. The objects suspended along the horse- 

 hair fringe were as follows, beginning on the left side: First a skin, 

 an eagle tail feather, a piwani skin, an eagle tail feather, a piiuani 

 skin, a //«'</«/ skin, an eagle tail feather, di piwani skin, an eagle tail 

 feather, and finally a piwani skin. 



The aodtnatsis of the two societies being in place, each priest cast 

 a pinch of meal on his natsi four times. They now removed the 

 snake whip natsis which had remained in the straw matting or cover- 

 ing of the kiva hatchway throughout the first seven days of the cere- 

 mony. They also removed the straw mat hatchway covering, thus 



