sTEVENsox.] SOCIETY OF THE COUGAR. 119 



ill yucca suds and then domiing their best apparel; only men hunt for 

 the larger game. Rabbits are hunted on horseback with rabbit sticks; 

 deer, on foot and with the rifle in preference to the arrow. 



A party of hunters which had been indicated by the war chief to 

 limit for deer and antelope left the village in the afternoon, the party 

 being led by the vice war chief. The ti'amoni was a member of the 

 party. The writer mentions this as it is unusual for a ti'amoni to 

 participate in the hunt, and it is claimed by the Sia that if their ti'a- 

 moni were not a mere boy he would observe the custom of his predeces- 

 sors and decline to join in the hunt. The scarcity of game in this part 

 of the country necessitated a three days' journey before any was 

 obtained. 



Previous to tlie departure of the party the ho'naaite of the society of 

 the cougar visited the house of each man who was to participate in the 

 hunt and eiiibi'aced him, I'epeating a short prayer for success. The 

 prayer was addressed first to the cougar, father of game, that he might 

 send his children about tlie country, and afterwards to the sun to give 

 power to the hunters to secure the game. The wives and relatives of 

 the hunting party had been busy preparing food for them ; each man's 

 wife looked carefully after his personal needs. The wife handed the 

 hunter's gun to him after he had mounted his horse, the unmarried man 

 of the party having his gun handed him by his father. 



The huntsmen were absent thirteen days, and upon their return a 

 inember of the party was sent in advance as courier to notify the war 

 chief. The news brought general delight to the villagers, particularly 

 to the wives of the hunters, who at once commenced preparing for their 

 arrival. They reached the river about sundown, and upon crossing 

 were received by the vice ho'naaite of the society of warriors and the 

 war chief, who offered prayers and sjirinkled meal in thanksgiving for 

 the success and sate return of the hunters who grouped on the bank of 

 the river. The younger children of the returning party were also on the 

 river bank to meet their fathers, who at once took their little ones on 

 the horses with them and expressed much delight at again seeing them. 

 The huntsmen then in single file ascended the hill to the village, led 

 by the \icarof the society of warriors and the war chief, the latter two 

 being on foot, the war chief following the vicar. A man whose house 

 was at the enti-ance of the plaza dropped out of the file to go to his 

 home, and by the time he had reached the door his wife was outside to 

 receive his gun and other luggage which he bore; this was the only 

 greeting between the husband and wife. After the horsemen had 

 crossed the plaza a second man entered his home, he being the vicar of 

 the society of the cougar and son of the vicar of the society of warriors. 

 The war chief then led the party until but one horseman remained, who 

 upon reaching his home was assisted by the war chief in relieving 

 himself and iinimal of their burden. Several of the women of the vil- 

 lage embraced the ti'amoni after he had dismounted, who, however, 



