Nov., 1903. Oraibi Summer Snake Ceremony — Voth. 333 



of nakwakwosis were made by each priest, usually either six or eight, 

 although' that number was by no means strictly adhered to. 



While these prayer offerings are made, other work is attended to. 

 Dance costumes are put in order, moccasins repaired, etc. Now and 

 then singing is practiced, and smoking is not overlooked. On one 

 occasion, I noticed that one of the priests made a feather head-dress 

 (nakwa) for a novice, the head-dress consisting of sixteen small eagle 

 feathers, two and two of which were tied together at their quill ends 

 and to the tips of which were fastened bluebird wing and tail feathers, 

 also two and two being tied together. The eagle feathers were 

 stained red and were fastened to a piece of buckskin. Every Ante- 

 lope and Snake wears such a nakwa on his head in the public per- 

 formance. 



At about noon on this day all the Antelopes take off the small 

 feather which they have thus far worn in their hair (and which is also 

 called nakwa) and string them on a stick, which is laid on the floor 

 near the fireplace. The owners, so I tvas told, deposit those nakwas 

 at different places — fields, melon patches, etc., outside of the village.^ 

 Some one brings in a few cottonwood branches for the public per- 

 formance. 



At about half-past four o'clock the men begin to get ready for 

 the performance on the plaza. Their body decoration is as follows: 

 The feet, hands, and chin are painted black; and in the case of the 

 sprinkler, a white line runs from ear to ear over the upper lip. 



Their costume consists of the embroidered kilt and sash, a fox- 

 skin, which is suspended from the sash behind, a bandoleer of dark 

 blue yarn over the right shoulder, a strand of the same yarn around 

 the legs below the knee, decorated ankle bands, and several strands 

 of beads around the neck from which is suspended in front an abelone 

 shell. On the head they wear in front a single white eagle feather 

 and on the apex of the head the large nakwa, already described.^ 



In their hands they hold the following objects: The chief priest, 

 who takes the lead, holds in his left hand the tfponi that had been 

 used in the different morning and evening ceremonies a gourd Vessel 

 and a bag with corn-meal; in his right hand he holds a rattle.' He is 

 followed by the sprinkler, who carries the medicine bowl and the 



' In the Powaniu ceremony these nilkwas are deposited m one of the Katcfna shrines close to 

 the village. (See B, PI. 179.) The Snake ndkwas are said to be deposited at almost any place near the 

 village; the same is true of the ntlkwas used in the Flute ceremony. 



' The sprinkler wears around his head a wreath made of small cottonwood. 



'This rattle is supposed to be made of a wooden ring, over which is stretched an antelope 

 scrotum skin. This is gathered on the lower side around a short stick, about three inches long, to 

 which it is wound by means of a thong. The rattle, I believe, contains shelled corn. 



