174 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



various sizes and forms over the cloud symbol, and an arrow point is 

 placed at the end of each of the two lines radiating- from the extreme 

 end of the meal and pollen circles. 



Nai'uchi and an associate each form a small cross of meal on oppo- 

 site sides of the meal line by running four lines inward to the center, 

 symbolic of the four regions. The cross is encircled with meal, sym- 

 bolizing the whole world. The circle is afterward covered with strings 

 of precious beads, which form a (tincture pad, upon which the two 

 men place medicine bowls. The eight mi'wachi" are placed in line 

 across the back of the cloud symbol, and tortoise shells, the first 

 objects taken from the second vase, are deposited at either end of the 

 line of mi'wachi. The shi'wanni now bathes his hands in prayer meal 

 and removes the dual et'tone from the vase, the wrappings about each 

 part forming a sort of square package. These are laid back of the 

 line of mi'wachi for a short time, and then the shi'wanni opens each 

 package in the most reverent and impressive manner, for they are 

 almost too precious to be touched even by the hands of the shi'wanni 

 himself. This dual fetish is placed midway on the cloud sj^rabol, the 

 'kia'et'tone being east of the chu'et'tone (see plate xxxiv). A more 

 solemn occasion than that of the placing of the et'tone on the cloud 

 symbol and the ceremonies attending its presence could not be imag- 

 ined. All hearts and minds are filled with the adoration of the holiest 

 of fetishes, with hopes for the dualistic influence upon the gods to 

 water the earth. This is a supreme moment with the Zunis, and can 

 be compared only with the administering of the Holy Eucharist in 

 the Roman Catholic church. 



Nai'uchi now raises the third associate, who has recently been ordained, 

 by taking both hands in his, and stands him next to the mi'wachi and 

 cloud symbol. The shi'wanni again washes his hands in meal and, 

 taking the kia'et'tone in his right hand and the chu'ettone in his 

 left, he holds them with the clasped hands of the newly ordained 

 associate and makes a long prayer, that the man may walk in the 

 straight road of day, be pure of heart, and so please the gods that 

 they will make the earth rich with her being. This prayer is repeated 

 over the new associate by the other two in turn, each washing his 

 hands in meal before handling the et'tone. When the second associate 

 closes his prayer Nai'uchi receives the et'tone, first having rubbed his 

 hands with meal, and returns its two parts to the meal symbol. 

 The new associate is now seated in his former place by Nai'uchi, who 

 places his hands on the associate's shoulders, motioning to the six 

 regions, and gives him a push into his seat, resuming his own. 



a The beautiful mi'wachi displayed at the ceremony of the et'tone are the property of the A'shi- 

 wanni by virtue of their membership in the order of O'naya'nakia (mystery medicine) of an 

 esoteric fraternity. The altars seen durhig the ceremonies associated with anthropic worship are 

 also the property of these fraternities, who are present by invitation, to furnish music for the 

 dances of the gods. 



