FEWKES] DRAGON-FLY FIGURES ON POTTERY 681 
paraphernalia, as masks, tablets, and pahos, and it occurs also on 
several ancient vessels (plates CXL, ); CLXUI, @), where it always has 
the same simple linear form, with few essential modifications. 
The symbols of four dragon-flies are well shown on the rim of the 
square box represented in plate CXxvIII, a. This box, which was proba- 
bly for charm liquid, or possibly for feathers used in ceremonials, is 
unique in form and is one of the most beautiful specimens from the 
Sikyatki cemeteries. It is elaborately decorated on the four sides with 
rain-cloud and other symbols, and is painted in colors which retain 
their original brilliancy. The interior is not decorated. 
The four dragon-flies on the rim of this object are placed in such a 
way as to represent insects flying about the box in a dextral circuit, 
or with the heads turned to the right. This position indicates a 
ceremonial circuit, which is exceptional among the Tusayan people, 
although common in Navaho ceremonies. In the sand picture of the 
Snake society, for instance, where four snakes are represented in a 
border surrounding a mountain lion, these reptiles are represented as 
crawling about the picture from right to left. This sequence is pre- 
scribed in Tusayan ceremonials, and has elsewhere been designated by 
me as the sinistral circuit, or a cireuit with the center on the left hand. 
The circuit used by the decorator of this box is dextral or sunwise. 
Several rectangular receptacles of earthenware, some with handles and 
others without them, were obtained in the excavations at Sikyatki. 
The variations in their forms may be seen in-plates CXXVIII, a, ¢, and 
coxxv, f. These are regarded as medicine bowls, and are supposed to 
have been used iu ancient ceremonials where asperging was performed. 
In many Tusayan ceremonials square medicine bowls, some of them 
without handles, are still used,! but a more common and evidently more 
modern variety are round and have handles. The rim of these modern 
sacred vessels commonly bears, in its four quadrants, terraced eleva- 
tions representing rain-clouds of the cardinal points, and the outer 
surface of the bowl is decorated with the same symbols, accompanied 
with tadpole or dragon-fly designs. 
One of the best figures of the dragon-fly is seen on the saucer shown 
in plate cxx, f. The exterior of this vessel is decorated with four 
rectangular terraced rain-cloud symbols, one in each quadrant, and 
within each there are three well-drawn figures of the dragon-fly. The 
curved line below represents a rainbow. The terrace form of rain- 
cloud symbol is very ancient in Tusayan and antedates the well- 
known semicircular symbol which was introduced into the country by 
the Patki people. It is still preserved in the form of tablets” worn on 
One of the best examples of the rectangular or ancient type of medicine bowl is used in the cele- 
bration of the Snake dance at Oraibi, where it stands on the rear margin of the altar of the Antelope 
priesthood of that pueblo. 
2Qne of the best of these is that of the Humis-katcina, but good examples occur on the dolls of the 
Calakomanas. The Lakone maid, however, wears a coronet of circular rain-cloud symbols, which 
corresponds with traditions which recount that this form was introduced by the southern clans or 
the Patki people. 
