STEVENSON] '^HLA'hEWE CEREMONY FOR RAIN 195 



mi'laiilapo'na. They next distribute the corn to the members of the 

 *Hla'hewe choir, then to the *kia'punak\vc, the Shi'wano"kia, the Slu)'- 

 ko'we choir, and last the flutists. After the corn, which is supposed to 

 have been blessed by the gods, is distributed, the Kia'kwemosi deposits 

 four te'likinawe in the excavation on the north and the Shi'wanni of 

 the Nadir deposits four in the one on the south to the deceased A'shi- 

 wanni; they cover the plumes Avith earth and obliterate all traces of 

 the excavations. The two choirs and flutists now g-o to their homes 

 for refreshment. Upon their return all th(> others leave except the 

 *kia'punakwe, who must remain and eat he'we (wafer bread), made 

 of corn meal mush. They may drink coflee when they have it. 



All the participants in the drama return to the ham'pone before 9 

 o'clock, when the Mu'luktakia reappear through the eastern covered 

 way with four spruce trees, each tree borne by two of the gods, of 

 whom the foremost has the trunk on his shoulder, while the other has 

 his right arm around the top of the tree. They post one of the trees 

 midwa}' and in front of the ham'pone and three at the south end. 

 The Mu'luktakia dance about during the planting of the trees. When 

 they have finished they leave the plaza Ijv the west entrance and 

 pass over the western road to Ko'thluwala'wa (abiding place of the 

 Council of the Gods). In reality' they go about half a mile to a bend 

 in the river, where an embankment protects them from view, and 

 remove the regalia of the gods the}' personate. The}' are followed b}^ 

 two men, who keep well to their left and are apparently unconscious of 

 the presence of the Mu'luktakia. Their mission is, however, to bring 

 back the masks and other paraphernalia hidden under their blankets. 



As soon as the Mu'luktakia leave the plaza, the general dancing of 

 the *Hla'he o'tiikwe and Sho'ko o'tiikwe begins. The female dancers 

 remain inthe house of the Shi'wano"kia until theirservicesarc required, 

 when four of them are led by the A'wan mo'sona of the 'Illa'hewc side 

 and four by the A'wan mo'sona of the Sho'ko'we side through the 

 eastern covered wa}' to the ham'pone, those for the 'Hla'hewe entering 

 on the south and those for the Sho'ko'we on the north. Four of 

 the girls are dressed by members of the *H1a'hewe choir and four by 

 members of the Sho'ko'we choir on their respective sides, their 

 regalia being identical with that worn by the Mda'potiikwe. including 

 the *hlelh'ponne. 



The men who personate the ya'pota"^' may remain iji the plaza ol)S('rv- 

 ing the drama until such time as they are wanted for the dance. The 

 ya'pota, who personifies A'wan ta"chu (Great Father of corn), enters 

 the ham'pone on the 'Hla'hewe side. He is dressed by a member 

 of the choir of this side. He wears a white embroidered kilt fastened 

 at the right side and held on by a sash tied on the same side. A fox 



f Several men take their turn in representing ya'pota. 



