24 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



of vegetation. The Zufii conception of A'wonawil'ona is similar to 

 that of the Greeks of Athena. 



It is not strange, therefore, that the A'shiwi" cover their altars with 

 S3'mbols of cumulus and nimbus clouds, with "the flame of the cloud 

 crest,"'' and "the blue of the deep wells of the sky," and use all these, 

 woven into plumes, to waft their pra3^ers to the gods, and have 

 as their symbol of life, embracing all the mysterious life-securing 

 properties, including m3^stery medicine, an ear of corn clothed in 

 beautiful plumage; for the spirit of A'wonawil'ona is "put into and 

 upon this created form." The name of this symbol, mi'li, is but 

 another word for corn, and the et'tone, the most sacred fetish of the 

 A'shiwanni, is another s3'mbol of life, including rain and vegetation. 



While every Zufii is taught that in inhaling the sacred breath from 

 his fetishes or in breathing upon the plumes he offers to the gods he 

 is receiving from A'wonawil'ona the breath of life or is waftinof his 

 own breath prayers to his gods, only the few have any conception of 

 all that is implied in their observances or fully appreciate the poetic 

 nature of their myths. 



After A'wonawil'ona created the clouds and the great waters of the 

 world, Shi'wanni said to Shi'wano"kia: "I, too, will make something 

 beautiful, which will give light at night when the Moon Mother 

 sleeps." Spitting in the palm of his left hand, he patted the spittle 

 with the fingers of his right hand, and the spittle foamed like vucca 

 suds and then formed into bubbles of many colors, which he blew 

 upward; and thus he created the fixed stars and constellations. And 

 Shi'wanni was well pleased with his creation. Then Shi'wano''kia 

 said "See what I can do," and she expectorated into the palm of her 

 left hand and slapped the saliva with the fingers of her right, and the 

 spittle foamed like yucca suds, running over her hand and flowing 

 ever3'where; and thus she created A'witelin *Si'ta (Earth Mother). 



Creation of the A'shiavi and their Coming to the Outer 



World 



Shi'wanni and Shi'wano"kia were the parents of the A'shiwi, who 

 were created in the undermost world, being born as infants; not, how- 

 ever, at long intervals, but in rapid succession, until many were born. 



Yiltokia (Sun Father)'' created two sons, Kow'wituma and Wats'usi, 

 l)y impregnating two bits of foam with his ra3^s. These Divine Ones 



a A'shiwi, the people, the reference being to the Zuiiis only. Shi'wi is the singular form. 



6 Yiitokia means the holder or bearer of light. The sun itself is conceived as a shield of burning 

 crystal, which the Sun Father, who is anthropomorphic, carries as he makes his daily journey from 

 east to west. Prayers are addressed to the invisible and esoteric bearer of (the power behind) the 

 shield, who travels over the road of day seated on a colos.sal turquois, wearing beautiful buckskin 

 clothing and many necklaces of precious beads. 



