FEWKES] THE MISHONGNOVI MACILENYA ALTAR 991 
was spread on the floor a zone of sand upon which meal had been 
sprinkled. This zone terminated at the end opposite the reredos with 
a short bank of sand at right angles to it, in which an upright row of 
eagle-wing feathers was set. Upon the zone of sand there was placed 
a row of rudely carved bird effigies, and at the extremity of this row, 
just before the eagle-wing feathers, stood a slab upon which was 
depicted half an ear of maize and two rain-cloud symbols, one of the 
latter being on each side. Between the first bird effigy and the slab 
was a medicine bowl, from which the nearest bird appeared to be 




























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Fic. 44—Altar of the Cakwalefiya at Mishongnovi. 
drinking. The bird effigies were eight in number, all facing from 
the altar. There were likewise on the floor other ceremonial para- 
phernalia common to all altars, among which may be mentioned 
the six-directions maize (corn of six colors used in a six-directions 
altar), rattles, a medicine bowl, a basket-tray of sacred m val, a honey 
pot, and similar objects. Their position on the floor by the altar is 
not significant. 
The altar of the Cakwalefiya society (figure 44) was even more 
complicated. Its reredos consisted of uprights and transverse slats of 
