STEVENSON] '^HLa'hP^WE CEREMONY FOR RAIN 187 



mouth before it is applied. The younger brother Bow priest lays 

 each ear as it is completed to his left on the blanket, and it is returned 

 by the proper parties to the baskets. Afterward the corn is placed 

 with that stacked in the house of each individual who receives it. 



After the preparation of the corn the mo'sonaof the*Hla'hewe choir 

 passes to each mi'laiiliipo'na of his side and tells her in low tones to 

 go to the Sho'ko'we choir and ask them to work for the 'Hla'hewe. 

 As each man is interrogated he replies " Yes," in a voice scarcely 

 audible. The women return to their seats and the members of the 

 Sho'ko'we choir sit on their wadded blankets before the basket of corn 

 and, facing the mi'laiilapo'na, prepare the 'hla'we. Each ear of corn 

 to be carried by the dancers is surrounded and hidden by the 'hla'we, 

 each one being separately bound to the corn with cotton cord. The 

 cord is held between the teeth during the wrapping. When all the 

 stems are attached, short dark eagle feathers, plumes from the birds 

 of the six regions, and white sage blossoms are arranged upright 

 around the ear of corn, and a piece of native white cotton cloth is 

 placed over the base of the corn, extending several inches upward and 

 heavily wrapped with the cotton cord. A diminutive crook, with 

 la'showawe attached, is tied to each 'hla'we to be carried in the left 

 hand of the dancer. The 'Hla'hewe choir sings while the Sho'ko'we 

 choir works on the *hla'we. The song is addressed to A'wan 'Sita 

 (Great Mother) corn: "See, I dress j^our children [referring to the 

 corn] in beautiful feathers and mi'hawe (sacred embroidered blankets). 

 1 pray that you will send to us many of your children another year." 

 Upon the completion of the 4ila'we they are laid across the baskets 

 of corn of the mi'laiilapo'na of both sides, and the mo'sona of the 

 Sho'ko'we tells the mi'laiilapo'na of his side to request the (;hoir 

 of the *Hla'hewe to work for them. The requests and replies are made 

 in undertones. Members of the 'Hla'hewe choir sit before the baskets 

 of corn of the mi'laiilapo'na and prepare the *hle'we. An ear of corn, 

 surrounded with feathers and white sage blossoms, is attached to the 

 inner side of the tablet." The 'hle'we are also laid across the baskets 

 of the mi'laiilapo'na of both sides. The embroidered kilts are 

 removed each time to allow the 'hla'we .and *hle'we to be placed in 

 the baskets. 



At sunset each of the tirst body of A'shiwanni deposits four te'liki- 

 nawe, the sticks colored black, with feathers of. the eagle, turkey, and 

 birds of the six regions attached, and six grains of corn of the colors 

 of the six regions, beneath the Hoor of the ki'wi'sine through the cir- 

 cular opening (symbolic of the entrance to the undermost world). The 

 offerings are made to the Council of the Gods and deceased A'shi- 



(' Some slight mistakes made in tlie arrangement of the feathers about one of the ears of corn was 

 at once noticed by one of the women of the Sho'ko'we side. She immediately called the attention 

 of a member of the choir of her .side to the error, which he corrected. 



