STEVENSON] 



RAIN PRIESTHOOD 



165 



great distress, the young- wife being prostrated with fear, for she knew 

 that if her husband and mother were detected in this breach of trust 

 their lives would be in great danger. When the writer expressed her 

 thanks, the wife, after her condition had improved, said: "AVe are all 

 very much afraid and very unhappy, but we were glad to serve 

 you/' Two et'towe rest undisturbed in sealed vases in their chambers, 

 the divisions of the A'shiwanni to whom they belong having ceased 

 to exist because the families privileged to form these divisions 

 have either expired or been considered unworthy to join the sacred 

 priesthood. 



Except the Shi'wanni of the Zenith, who is pe'kwin (deputy) to the 

 Sun Father, each shi'wanni has a corps of associates, including a woman. 



except the shi'wanni possessing the Kjfa'nakwe et'towe. He has no 

 female associate, as none has ever been found possessing a sufficiently 

 good heart for this position. One of the duties of the women asso- 

 ciated with the A'shiwanni is the grinding of white corn into a coarse 

 meal in the family mills. This kia'waiawe (prayer meal) is mixed 

 with crushed turquoise, ko'hakwa (white shell), and abalone shell. 

 The wife, daughter, or sister of the pe'kwin grinds that which he uses. 

 This priesthood is confined to families, the rule being that each 

 member of a division of the priesthood nuist be of the clan or a child 

 of the clan of the shi'wanni of the division. The son or brother of 

 the shi'wanni fills a vacanc3% preference being given to the eldest son. 

 There are exceptions, however, to this rule, such as tlie Shi'wanni of 



