Nov., 1903. Oraibi Summer Snake Ceremony — Voth. 331 



and about three feet long. He then returns to the kfva, where he 

 again smokes. In 1896 he then made some nakwdkwosis, which he 

 handed to one of the young men, who took them out — for what pur- 

 pose I did not learn — but returned in a few minutes. He had put on 

 his snake kilt for this errand. Soon after the Snake chief proceeds 

 to the Antelope kfva for the mutual smoke with the Antelope priest. 

 The other Snake priests prepare for the approaching public ceremony, 

 putting on their common kilts, their moccasins, renewing their usual 

 body decorations, combing their hair, etc. As soon as the two chiefs 



< are done smoking another messenger is sent after water for the race 

 on the following morning, this time, however, a member of the Snake 

 Fraternity. He takes with him the same objects as the messenger on 

 the previous day, but instead of the double green bahos from the 

 Antelope chief he takes with him some nadlong-bahos from the Snake 

 chief, and instead of going to either Tlihciva or Torfva he goes along 

 another trail to either Topdshkwava or Matdva, generally, however, 

 to the first named. He deposits his prayer offerings in the same 

 manner and at as many places as the Antelope man did. The trail 

 which he takes is somewhat west of the other one and is the same on 

 which the race takes place the next morning. 



Having thus recorded the proceedings of the Snake kfva, and 

 seen the Snake messenger depart to the distant spring for water, we 

 again turn to the Antelope kfva to record the events of the day from 

 the time when we left the kfva with the two warriors in the morning, 

 leaving the Antelopes silently awaiting the departure of the latter. As 

 soon as the warriors have left the kfva, the Antelopes also leave their 

 places, the Antelope youth and maid disrobe, and wash off their paint 

 as usual. After some smoking is indulged in and some have begun to 

 make preparations for making prayer offerings, the usual morning 

 meal is brought into the kfva, and all eat again, however avoiding 

 salted food and meats. After breakfast a great number of prayer 

 offerings are made. As already indicated, it is extremely diiificult 

 to ascertain just what and how many bdhos and nakwakwosis are sup- 

 posed to be made during a ceremony by each participant. In ^me 

 cases rules are observed, especially by the leading priests. As a 

 general thing a great deal of irregularity exists and a certain amount 

 of freedom seems to be left to the inclination of the individual priest 



. — within certain limits, of course. As I have been obliged to make 

 these observations alone and two kfvas had to be watched, and in each 

 kfva different priests, it has been impossible to settle this point. 

 In order to aid further studies of this matter, the facts pertaining to 

 it, as recorded in the different years, are given separately. 



