36 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS 



VOL. OO 



The Tewa have religious associations with every mountain peak 

 surrounding them. The most sacred, except Sierra Blanca. is Tsi'- 

 komo, or " loose rock," which is a day's journey on foot from San 

 Ildefonso Pueblo. There is a shrine on the summit of the mountain 

 and a large tree trunk is planted and firmly supported by a mound of 

 rock, as a token that Tsi'komo is the greatest of all mountains, except 

 Sierra ISlanca, and is the companion of this great peak in southern 

 Colorado. 



One of the most interesting" ceremonies associated with the moun- 



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Fig. 37. — Shrine on Mt. Tsi'komo, showing circle of stones, lines of trails to 

 pueblos, vase and prayer-sticks. 



tain Tsi'komo is the voluntary initiation of the youth into the fra- 

 ternities iti the kiva, or ceremonial chamber. 



Like the Taos, the Tewa are divided into Sun and Ice people. 

 Each group has a kiva, and there is a third room for the accommoda- 

 tion of both parties. 



After the initiates and priests have spent four days and nights 

 in the kiva, they make a pilgrimage to the mountain Tsi'komo. 

 Upon reaching a spring far up on the mountainside the party rests 

 tor refreshment, which consists only of wafer-like bread. After 

 the repast, the rain priest with his associates, and the elder and 

 younger bow priests, ascend to the shrine where the ceremonies are 



