270 TUSAYAN KATCINAS [rtm. avn.15 



of the Kwiikwimtu, sat alone on the southern side of tlic; main lloor 

 whifli was clear in tlio middle, and twelve chiefs, anionj,' them Cinio, 

 Si'iiK'la. and Tcnl)('ma, sat o])i)osite him. 



Ten novices I'lom the otlier kivas entered gorgeously arrayed in 

 white kilts, brilliant crowns of feathers, white body decorations, bear- 

 ing an imitation squash blossom, with spruce sprigs in tlieir left hands 

 and corn in their right hands. As the chiefs took their places Lcsnia 

 sprinkled the floor of the room near the ladder with moist valley sand, 

 about an inch deep. The novices stepped from the ladder upon this 

 sand and passed np in front of the chiefs, then squatted before them 

 factiiig the soutJi, their kilts having been lifted so that tliey sat on the 

 cold lloor. 



Anawita then crossed over to the south side of the room and s(!ated 

 himself at the east end of the line of chiefs. 



At the west wall of the kiva a strange altar had been erected. 

 Lesma had piled against the ledge of this part of the kiva a stack of 

 corn, two or more ears of which had been contributed by the maternal 

 head of each family in the pueblo. At either side and in front of tiie 

 Stack of corn shrubbery had been placed. In the space between the 

 top of the corn pile and the roof wands were placed, and to these wands 

 had been fastened many artificial flowers, i or 5 inches in diameter, set 

 close together but in no regular lines. There were over 200 of these 

 flowers of different colors, dark-red and white predominating. Nearly 

 in the center of this artificial shrubbery there was a large gourd shell 

 with the convex side turned toward the audience and having an aper- 

 ture about 8 inches in diameter in its center. Through this opening 

 had been thrust the head of an effigy' of raliiliikonuh, the plumed- 

 head snake, painted black, with a tongue-Hke appendage protruding 

 from the mouth. When all the assembled priests were seated a moment 

 of solemn stillness ensued, after which Siipela arose, cast a handful of 

 meal toward the effigy of the snake, and said a short prayer in a rever- 

 ent tone.^ Then the head of the snake, which was manipulated by an 

 unseen person beliind the altar, was observed to rise slowly to the cen- 

 ter of the aperture, and a mellow sounding roar like a blast througli a 

 conch appeareil to come from the mouth, while the whole head was 

 made to quiver and wave. The sound was of short duration, repeated 

 four times, and then the head reposed again on the lower rim of the 

 ground shell. Presently was heard a sound as of a scai)ula drawn 

 across a notched stick six times. All the old chiefs in succession cast 

 meal to the effigy and prayed, and in res])onse to each the great snake 

 emitted sounds identical with those mentioned above. The spectators 

 then left the kiva, and a frenzied dance of strange character occurred. 

 The societies from other kivas came in, and the chief of each declaimed 

 in a half-chanting voice which rose to a shriek at the close of a stanza. 



'See figures of this effigy in my account of the PAliilukoBti, Journal of American Fofk-lore, Oct.- 

 Det-,., 1893, 



^nere oviik-iitly wv have a prayer to the deity syiubolizeii hy tlie elHsy ami not an invocation to the 

 effigy itself. 



