302 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 184 
the roasted animals, and take them to the hotcanitsa, where they hang 
them up and “take care of them so they won’t spoil.” If, however, the 
hunt is for ‘‘the people,” they can keep the game and eat it. 
DEER HUNTS 
Deer hunts are always held for the Tiamunyi and at the request of 
the War chief. My notes falter with regard to preliminary details, 
but I believe that Masewi formally requests the assistance of the head 
of the Caiyeik society; whether or not he requests permission of the 
Tiamunyi, or notifies him of his intention to call for a hunt, is not 
clear. After decision has been made, a ritual is held near the rock on 
top of the secret underground chamber. A fire is built, Caiyeik nawai 
officiates; Masewi and perhaps some gowatcanyi are there. The next 
morning a meeting is held in a kiva with Masewi presiding. ‘“They 
talk about the hunt.’”’ After the meeting, the hunt is announced 
through the village by the gowatcanyl. 
Before leaving for the Jemez Mountains, where the hunts are usually 
held, each hunter deposits a prayer-feather bunch (wapanyi) and beads 
(itsa:tyunyi) which have been prepared for him by his grandparents 
or his mother, and a wicsi, made by himself, to the maiyanyi in gen- 
eral and to Caiyeik (the spirit patron of game animals) in particular. 
Masewi is in charge of the deer hunt. If they have two hunting 
parties, as they sometimes do, Masewi takes charge of one; Oyoyewi, 
the other. Before leaving the pueblo Masewi appoints men to serve 
as Masewi and Oyoyewi and gowatcanyi during their absence. The 
gowatcanyi go along, too, as assistants to the War chiefs. The head of 
the Caiyeik society, or his assistant, must go; other members of the 
Hunters society alsomay go. The hunt usually lasts 6 days: 1 day to 
go, 4 days to hunt, and 1 day toreturn. However, if they have little 
success they may extend the hunt a day or two. They establish camps 
as they proceed. Some men are detailed to cook; others, to take care 
of the horses. 
“Tf they get enough deer on the first day for the cacique Masewi 
tells the men they can hunt for themselves. If the hunters have no 
luck during the first three days Caiyeik nawai performs a ritual on the 
evening of the third day.”’ Details were not obtained, but the infor- 
mant stated that Caiyeik has his little stone figures of mountain lion, 
and perhaps other fetishes, laid out. ‘They sing songs to bring game 
near the camp.” 
“Tf you meet someone, anyone, in the mountains while you are 
hunting, don’t shake hands with him, forif you do your luck will pass 
out from you into him.” Also, “If you wound a deer and track him 
only to find that someone else has brought him down, the deer belongs 
to you.” 
