94 SUMMER CEREMONIALS 



pueblos which are christianized. The summer dances are 

 exceptionally interesting and present most valuable exam- 

 ples of Zuni religious practices. 



Three kinds of dances were observed by me in the sum- 

 mer months. Of the first kind, called the Kor-kok-sJii, 

 there were several. There was a single tablet dance, the 

 Hay-a-ma-slie-que, and several corn dances called the Kla- 

 hey-wey. One of these latter, known as the Ham-po-ney 

 or O-to-nar-wey , which is celebrated after long intervals of 

 time, has rarely been witnessed by white men, and as far 

 as I know has never been described. 



The above mentioned sacred dances are only incident- 

 ally times of merriment, but are occasions of earnest cere- 

 monials, and have a profoundly tenacious hold upon the 

 people. They are eminently sacred in character and well 

 illustrate the ceremonial observances of this kind. 



DU-ME-CHIM-CHE. 



This ceremonial precedes the first of the rain dances 

 and is celebrated just before the first Kor-kok-slii. 



The ten priests, who will later be described as the Koy- 

 e-a-ma-shi, form in line each with his hands on the hips of 

 the one in front of him. The leader carries his hands on 

 his knees. The line assumes a slightly stooping posture 

 and chanting in a monotonous way the words Du-me-chim- 

 che, Du-me-chim-che, d-d-d, slowly trots along around the 

 pueblo, under the projecting roof of the first story. The 

 course of this strange procession lies through the numer- 

 ous lanes, around the open plazas and the outer row of 

 houses of the town. 



The participants are naked, without the characteristic 

 mud masks, their hair hanging down their backs. They 

 wear a single coarse cloth about their waists. 



As this strange procession makes its way about the town 



-: - 



