210 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



After the Navaho dancers leave the ki'wi'sine the person wearing the 

 mask is requested to dance. He falls at his first attempt, but after- 

 ward he burlesques the dancers who have just left. He is received 

 with great enthusiasm, being- called out a second and a third time. 

 When responding to the encore he pretends to be quite lame from his 

 fall. After taking his seat he sa3\s a few words in Hopi in a squeaky 

 voice, upon which a member of this tribe who is present calls out: 

 "Why, you are a Hopi." When he is leaving the ki'wi'sine his foot 

 misses a rung of the ladder, and the leg projects between the rungs, 

 much to the enjoyment of all present. He is again called to the floor, 

 when he produces general laughter by his ridiculous dancing. After 

 he leaves, a choir composed of the young men of the ki'wi*sine, sta- 

 tioned at the west end of the room, sing. The leader of the choir 

 selects certain girls to dance. They protest, but without avail. The 

 wrap which covers the face must be thrown aside during the dance, 

 but at the close of the dance the face is quickly concealed again. There 

 is an interval of some minutes, when other girls are selected to dance. 



After a time three young men, who appear to be present for the 

 purpose, select several youths from a group of young men who sit 

 on the south ledge opposite the girls, leading them over to the girls. 

 Some of the 3^ouths resist, apparently as bashful as the maidens appear 

 to be. A youth on being presented to a girl addresses her in a few 

 words. Her reply decides whether he shall sit at her feet or hurriedly 

 return to his former place. Several of the girls persistently refuse to 

 make a choice, while others discard many before the fortunate one is 

 chosen. When the j^outh remains with a girl a bowl of water is 

 passed to him, and he in turn hands it to the maiden, who bathes her 

 face, hands, and legs, the 3'oung man remaining at her feet until she 

 chooses a second youth, when the girl in company with the two leaves 

 the ki'wi*sine. The girls return to the ki'wi*sine with their faces more 

 closely veiled than ever. 



This is the only occasion, excepting that recorded in connection 

 with the closing ceremonies of the 'Hle'wekwe fraternit}^, in which 

 there has been any evidence of licentiousness observed among the 

 Zufii women, and but comparatively few 3'oung women leave the ki'wi*- 

 sine at this time. While they are permitted to go, such a course is 

 considered most improper and a shadow of disgrace clings to every 

 girl who does so, no matter how innocent she may be. 



A visit was made to the home of one of these yoimg women the morning following 

 an evening spent in the ki^wi'sing. A yonng girl was seen to approach timidly the 

 family group at their morning meal; but she was ordered away by both parents, 

 who were weeping bitterly, while the elder daughter was severe in her condemna- 

 tion of her sister. The writer upon inquiring into the trouble was answered by the 

 mother, who, weeping afresh, says: "My daughter stole from her home last night 

 and joined the wicked set in the ki^wi'sing, and she will never again be like iny 

 daughter." The girl at first refused to notice the writer, but being assured of her 



