Nov., 1903. Oraibi Summer Snake Ceremony — Voth. 313 



performance just described from five to seven times, the number of 

 times differing on various occasions, although it is believed that six 

 times is the proper number. When he has done, he returns to his 

 place, laying the feather on the floor near the altar. The youth and 

 maid rise, spit the chewed roots into their hands and rub their hands, 

 legs, and body with it. Hereupon they take from the meal tray a 

 pinch of meal, sprinkle it towards the altar, and the girl then leaves 

 the kiva. The man joins the other men, who after the ceremony 

 generally sit around, chat and smoke a while, and then take their sup- 

 per. The Antelopes eat no meat or any food containing salt on this 

 and the three succeeding days; the chief priest eats only one meal 

 daily — late in the evening — during the same period. The Snakes, 

 after having arrived in their kiva, smoke, converse, take their supper, 

 smoke again, and then retire for the night. They, as well as the 

 Antelopes, sleep in or on their respective kivas as usual. 



SIXTH CEREMONIAL DAY. 



(SHUSH KA HIMUU; ONCE NOT ANYTHING.) 



Early in the morning the Antelope chief brings to the Snake kiva 

 the tray with the four bahos and four chochokpis that he had made 

 on the previous morning, and that had been lying on the west side of 

 the sand mosaic during the day. With the bahos were some nakwak- 

 wosis, but just how many I failed to learn. These prayer offerings 

 are usually deposited by Antelope priests, though sometimes by the 

 Snakes, south and west from the village at four different places near 

 trails. This, however, has not been substantiated, as I never went 

 with those messengers. These offerings are repeated every morning 

 for three days, with the exception, however, that they are deposited 

 closer to the village on each succeeding day.' Soon after the Ante- 

 lope priest has returned to his kiva the Snakes prepare for the morn- 

 ing ceremony in the Antelope kiva. As on the previous evening, the 

 chief priest takes with him the snake whips, the bag with the snake, 

 and all take some corn-meal and then proceed to the Antelope kiva. 

 Here they and the Antelope priests arrange themselves in the same 

 manner as on the previous evening and exactly the same performance, 

 as far as could be ascertained, takes place as on that occasion. As 

 that performance has been fully described on previous pages it does 

 not seem necessary to repeat the description. I have repeatedly tried 



' This same custom prevails in other ceremonies, in some, for instance the Flute, the bahos 

 being made shorter each succeeding day, so that the last one is only about one inch long. 



