92 SUMMER CEREMONIALS 
by one who is not well enough acquainted with the mean- 
ing of the events to offer a satisfactory explanation of them. 
The religious ceremonies which are here treated of are 
dances, and planting of prayer-plumes. There are also 
considered certain secular events which have a more or less 
religious nature in their performance. The Zuiiians, as 
the inhabitants of other pueblos, are given to ceremonials, 
and every event in their lives has a religious side. As a 
consequence these observances are very numerous and va- 
ried and from the standpoint of a student it is difficult to 
separate purely secular celebrations from those of a sacred 
character. 
Among the simpler ceremonials may be mentioned the 
planting of prayer-plumes, which are simple wooden sticks 
with feathers tied upon them. These sticks are either 
placed in the fields or deposited in special localities called 
shrines of which there are several in the neighborhood of 
the puel)lo.^ Two elaborate shrines are situated on top 
of a high tableland or mesa called Ta-yal-o-ne. These 
two shrines are dedicated to the Gods of War and the offer- 
ings upon them are quite elaborate. Their central object 
is a log of wood placed upright on which are cut rude 
human faces while other similar weatherworn logs are 
strewn al>out on the ground near the shrine. A cluster of 
prayer-plumes, some tied to the foot of the log, some up- 
right in the soil in front of it, are offerings which have been 
'One of the Zunians tokl me that in old times there were two shrines in the 
pueblo ne.ir tlie old Spaiii.^h Cliiirch, now in ruins. A significant reminder of 
the Christian influence in Znni besides the old church is the cemetery in front of it 
where all tlie Zufii dead are now buried without stone or inscription of anj- kind 
to mark tlieir graves. In the middle ot this walled enclosure stands a large wooden 
cross wliich was very dilapidated in 1889. At the beginning of last summer how- 
ever this cross liad been replaced by a new one and tlie adobe wall surrounding 
tlie grave yard had been renovated. As many skeletons are found buried in the 
floors of the old ruins even in Hal-o-na-wan on tlie opiiosite side of the river from 
Zufii, it may be supposed that the present place of interment is a relic of Spanish 
influence. 
