100 ETHNOBOTANY OF THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth: ann. .-iO 



mcdiciiie-bowl before the altar, the bowl symbolizing the center sind 

 the corn the four world (juarters, and the above and the below. 



Ears of corn are carried in the dance by many personators of 

 anthropic gods and, attached to tablets, by maidens. The perfect ear 

 of corn is worn secreted in the ])elt by certain dancers. Ribboned 

 corn-husks decorate the hair and skull caps of the Ne'wekwe Galaxy, 

 one of the oldest fraternities, in their ceremonies. 



Corn meal wi-apped in bits of husk is presented to the theurgist 

 who is asked to visit the sick. Similar jsresents are made to men 

 and women invited to take part in ceremonies and are used also to 

 notify members of organizations of meetings, etc. The packages are 

 always presented with a praj'er and the recipient prays. 



A delicate mush of white meal made by a male member of the 

 family is forced down the throat of a dying rain priest that he may 

 not fail to have sufficient nom-ishment during his fom- days' journey 

 to Ko'luwala'wa, through which he passes to reach the undermost 

 world whence he came. Ku'hiwala'wa is supposed to be in the 

 depths of a lake.^ 



Balls of corn-husks covered with woven cotton are used with the 

 long fringes on the white cotton ceremonial sashes, symbolizing corn 

 and a desire for bomitiful crops. 



Wlien sweet corn is ceremonially distributed (thrown by the dancers 

 to the populace), it is boiled ■v\-ithout j-emovmg the husks; these are 

 tm-ned back and serve for holding the corn when thrown out. Other 

 com is given imcooked and the happy recipients plant it the comiiig 

 year. 



Eibboned husks are fashioned into small square pads to which 

 small plumes are attached upright, in the center, forming the shuttle- 

 cocks for use in the game of battledore and shuttlecock, enjoyed prin- 

 cipally by the yomiger Zuui. 



' SeeSSd Ann. Rep. Bur. Amer. Ellrn.v. 20. 



