THE ZUNI INDIANS OF NEW MEXICO. 581 



corned by himself and wife, who at once seated us comfortably on 

 sheep-skin rugs spread on the bare earthen floor ; bread and water 

 were forthwith handed us, these constituting the simple but recog- 

 nized symbol of great hospitality among this people. 



After a pleasant hour in the comj^any of our guide and his wife, we 

 sallied forth to see the town. Coming to one of the larger houses, we 

 gained ready admission, and were hospitably received. Our presence, 

 however, was the occasion of much comment among the women, of 

 whom we found six in one room. Their peculiar chattering, accom- 

 panied by hearty laughter and strange gesticulation, though unintelli- 

 gible to us, was construed into joking at our expense. The men were 

 in the field at work, while the children were enjoying a bath in the 



Fro. 1. 



Pueblo of Zuni. 



muddy waters of the Rio Zuni. The women were engaged in grind- 

 ing corn and wheat, an operation efiected by means of several pairs 

 of large, flat stones, some of coarse and others of fine material. Be- 

 tween the first set of stones the grain is merely mashed, each success- 

 ive pair rendering the particles smaller and smaller, the last turning 

 out fine flour. Two other women, in another room, were engaged in 

 baking bread, which is made into thin cakes, or wafers, similar to the 



