92 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



and with the firebrands drive the rabbits out from their hiding places 

 among the trees. The rabbits are killed b\- the gods and others 

 with the rabbit stick. The gods never take up the rabbits the}^ kill, 

 but the women run from their places to collect them and return again 

 to the circle. When a god fails to kill a rabbit which runs between 

 himself and another man, and the man kills it, the latter strikes the 

 god over each arm and leg; but should the god slay the rabbit 

 he whips the man; if both fail, they whip one another. The women 

 endeavor to catch the rabbits with their hands as they pass by, but are 

 not often successful. The unsuccessful one receives four strokes across 

 the back from the gods. 



The first rabbit killed has its nose cut and is handed to the *Cha'- 

 kwena by a maiden, and the *Cha'kwena rubs the bleeding nose down 

 her legs on the inner sides, that the A'shiwi (Zufii) girls may hasten 

 to arrive at the age of puberty and that they may be prolific in child- 

 bearing. 



After the first hunt is finished the circle is broken, and the women 

 who have charge of the slain rabbits carry them to the mo'sona (director) 

 and pe'kwin (deputy) of the *San'iakiakwe, who stand facing the east, 

 each holding a firebrand. The}^ pick ott' a bit of fur from the tip of 

 the tail of each rabbit and place this fur in the firebrands, for future 

 success in the hunt. The rabbits are laid on their sides on the ground, 

 with their heads to the east and facing south, and all draw near, pray, 

 and sprinkle them with meal. 



All the rabbits that are secured in the hunt, except the one carried 

 by *Si"sikia to He'iwa ki'wi'sine, are conveyed b}^ the director of the 

 ^'San'iakiakwe to the ceremonial chamber of the first body of A'shi- 

 wanni and presented to them. The rabbits are laid on the floor, with 

 their heads to the east, and an ear of corn is placed between the fore 

 paws of each rabbit (see plate cvi b). All present, including the 

 members of the household, gather around, offer up a pra3"er, and 

 sprinkle meal. A feast is then enjoyed, and some of the food is car- 

 ried from this chamber to He'kiapawa ki'wi*sine b}' the women of the 

 house. The rabbits presented to the first body of A'shiwanni are 

 stewed in vessels used exclusively for ceremonial cooking, and at sun- 

 rise the meat is cast into the fire, with a praj^er to the gods to eat: 

 "My fathers, my mothers, my children, eat." *Si'*sikia flays his 

 rabbit and fills the skin with cedar bark. A pinch of meal is placed 

 in the filling, s3anbolic of the heart, a hollow reed is run fi'om the 

 mouth through the filling, and g3^psum is placed in the eye sockets. 



After the return of the gods from the hunt they pass about the 

 village before entering He'kiapawa ki'wi'sine. There is dancing in 

 the six ki'wi'siwe throughout the night. During the evening the 

 *Cha'kwena, led by the Ko'mosona, encircles the village, and on 

 reaching a point on the north side she leaves the Ko'mosona, proceeds 

 some distance north of the village, and deposits food offerings in 



