194 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



dress complete, the *hlelh'pone« (see plate xxxviii) is placed on the 

 head. When the *kui'potiikwe are ready ior the dance those who 

 were dressed on the Sho'ko'we side pass around by the west side of 

 the hjiin'pone and join the others on the south. Each dancer is sup- 

 plied with two 'hla'we by the mi'Iaiilapo'na, and they are led to the 

 plaza by the A' wan mosono"kia of the *Hla'hewe side who throws meal 

 before her as she proceeds. She joins in the dance for a short time 

 and returns to her seat. The *kia'potiikwe face the east while dancing. 

 After one dance to the accompaniment of the *Hla'hewe choir, the 

 dancers return to the *Hla'hewe side, each handing her 'hla'we to a 

 mi'Iaiilapo'na and receiving two *hle'we instead. They now pass by 

 the west side around to the Sho'ko'we side and out into the plaza, led by 

 the A' wan mosono"kia of the Sho'ko'we side, who also sprinkles meal 

 as she advances. She joins the *kia'potiikwe in the dance for a short 

 time, and then returns to the hiim'pone. When dancing for the Sho'- 

 ko'we side they have the additional music of the flutists. After the 

 dance the *kia'potiikwe return to the ham'pone by the Sho'ko'we side, 

 those representing the *Hla'hewe passing around to their own side. 



The girls are now stripped of their regalia and return to their homes. 

 They are no sooner departed than eight Mu'luktakia (certain anthropic 

 gods) arrive by the eastern covered way. The Ko'mosona, director- 

 general of the Ko'tikili (mythologic fraternit}"), having been notified 

 by the elder brother Bow priest that he desired the services of eight 

 Mu'luktakia, gave the order for them to appear. As soon as the INIu'luk- 

 tiikia reach the center of the plaza they begin dancing, turning first one 

 way then another, and dropping grains of corn of the colors of the six 

 regions, which are carried in a white embroidered sash worn by each 

 dancer. After a short appearance in the plaza for the purpose of drop- 

 ping the corn, the Mu'luktakia disappear Iw the western covered wa}-, 

 and the A'shiwanni gather up the corn. Each shi'wanni drops six 

 grains, everj^ grain being of the color of one of the six regions, into each 

 of the two square excavations, the one on the north having been made 

 in the early morning by the Kia'kwemosi and the one on the south by 

 the pe'kwin at the same hour. They carr}' the rest of the corn with 

 them, passing down the Sho'ko'we side and up the *Hla'hewe side, 

 each shi'wanni giving six grains of corn of the six colors to each 



aThe 'hlelh'pone is a ceremonial headdress. A circle is formed of a slender bit of* wood, and four 

 additional pieces are attached to the band at equal distances, coming together at the other ends, 

 forming a sort of miter. A fringe of black goat's wool, in the present instance about 3^ inches deep, 

 extends around the band. A tablet similar to those carried in the hands stands out from the center 

 of the miter, and a thin fringe of goat's wool, 4 inches deep, dyed red, hangs at the base. Serrated 

 pieces of wood, symbolic of clouds, attached to the bands stand in the arches. Each cloud symbol 

 is tipped with a fluffy eagle plume. A bunch of yellow parrot plumes stands at the back of the 

 'hlelh'ponne, with an aigret of shorter parrot plumes and fluffy eagle feathers at its base. Long 

 streamers of red and green ribbon hang from the aigret. The 'hlelh'pone, like other ceremonial 

 objects of the Zunis, are freshly decorated whenever they are to be used. The decorating is done in 

 the houses of eight men designated by the A'wan a'mosi, and they are carried to the hiim'pone 

 when the morning star appears above the horizon. 



