178 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



associates. Plate xxxv shows the offerings, consisting of ears of corn, 

 bowls containing grains of corn of various colors, bead necklaces 

 and bangles made of meal in imitation of silver, and young shoots of 

 peach trees with artificial fruit of dried he'palokia« and sweet corn. 

 Both|ire ground, the latter after it has been boiled, made into a stiff 

 paste with cold water, and molded into balls and tinted. 



All included in the ceremony move the objects up and down in time 

 to the songs of thanksgiving to the gods for the gifts that have 

 been received. The moving of the brilliant corn and highly decorated 

 baskets by the men and women, the beautiful arms of the latter being 

 exposed, is the rhythm of motion. The songs of thanksgiving, with 

 the raising and lowering of the offerings, continue without cessation 

 fifty minutes, after which a low prayer is made by Nai'uchi, and the 

 ott'erings are removed to another part of the room. 



The maker of the suds pushes his cloud bowl forward to a group of 

 women, and each takes a handful of suds and rubs it first on her chest, 

 then over her arms and legs. The bowl is afterward carried around 

 the room, that all may bathe with the suds. The third associate carries 

 the bowl of consecrated water, administering a draft from a shell to 

 all present. He begins at the west end of the room, giving it to the 

 shi'wanni and associates last. 



After partaking of the consecrated water, the shi'wanni removes the 

 mi'wachi one b}' one from the painting, carefully blowing oft' any meal 

 that may have dropped on the feathers, and returns them to the 

 basket. He next removes the chu'ettone, while the associate by his side 

 takes the *kia'ettone. They blow off everj^ particle of meal that may 

 have remained on the fetishes, P^ach fetish is first wrapped in a piece of 

 cotton cloth, then in deerskin, and then carefully tied. The shi'wanni 

 now tenderly returns the chu'ettone to the vase, and after receiving the 

 *kia'ettone from the associate deposits it by the side of the other. 

 While the fetishes are being placed in the vase the two associates 

 opposite the shi'wanni are engaged in returning the stone fetishes to 

 the medicine box and sacks from which they were taken. After all 

 objects are removed the second associate sweeps the meal and pollen 

 into a heap, and, carrying it to the river, casts it into the waters, that 

 it may go to Ko'thluwala'wa. 



Without further ceremony the owners of four of the mi'wachi, who 

 are related to the shi'wanni or associates, leave the chamber with their 

 fetishes. The fetishes directl}' associated Avith the et'tone are returned 

 with it to its room. Then the shi'wanni and associates have their heads 

 bathed by the female associate, after which the usual feast is served, 

 which Nai'uchi, his associates, and their families enjoy. First, how- 

 ever, a portion of the food is gathered by the shi'wanni and associates 

 and cast into the fire, to be conve3^ed to the ancestral gods. 



a See p. 365. 



