42 



THE ZUNI INDIANS 



[ETH. ANN. 23 



of water pockets, the only drinkable water within miles. From this point the party 

 proceeded on foot to where a sandstone bench is crossed to the north of the fissure, then 

 turnino: southward a (juarter of a mile was traversed, when a descent of 150 feet was 

 made to a canyon 100 feet across at the point of descent. Turning toward the direc- 

 tion of the camp the party worked their way through a labyrinth of tall grass, rank 

 ■weeds, and willows, which earlier in the season must have been impassable. The 

 canyon narrowed toward the end, and at this point it is not over 15 feet wide. 

 The walls were completely covered with pictographs (see plate vi 6). An interest- 

 ing feature of this canyon are the potholes, many of them large and deep, 

 some forming a perfectly arched niche. It was in one of the latter that the Gods 

 of War, U^yuyewi and Ma'sai^lema, are supposed to have been created. « This 





Fig. 2 — Ancient snn shrine 



arch is near the point of the canyon, and it is sufficiently large to admit a per- 

 son 5 feet 3 inches tall. An etching of the sun decorates this niche about 2 feet 

 above the base. The younger brother Bow priest exhibited the keenest interest in 

 imparting all that was to be learned about Hiin^Uipinkia. Retracing their steps, the 

 party found on the right a small natiiral chamber, about 10 by 10 feet, the walls and 

 roof of which are sandstone. From this point the party with difficulty squeezed 

 through a small opening at the base of the wall by lying flat on the ground; another 

 and larger apartment was entered, roofed only by the firmament. Access to four 

 other chambers is by narrow passageways. The walls in these places are also elabor- 

 ate with pictographs, including clan totems. & 



a See Origin of the Diminutive Gods of War. ^ • 



ft PI. VII shows a number of sjinbols secured by the camera: a, Zuiii seal; 6, sun; e, primitive Zuiii 



before the amputation of tail; d, feet after removal of web; c, unknown; /, altar; g, curious composite 



figure including deer. 



