218 THE ZDNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



blankets. These blankets, which at present are made principally by 

 the Hopi Indians, are supposed by the Zunis to have originated with 

 the Kia'nakwe. These ghost people are angry with the Zuiiis for their 

 destruction; hence the ceremony of propitiation, which occurs quad- 

 rennially and which is one of the most important as well as one of the 

 most elaborate in Zuni. 



The part of this ritual that is performed in the Si'aa' te'wita, sacred 

 dance plaza, was first witnessed by the writer in 1884, In comparing 

 notes made on two later occasions with those made then, it was found 

 that the outdoor ceremonials are identical in all details. 



The personators of the Kia'nakwe are always members of the Corn 

 clan and Chu'pawa ki'wi'sine. Ten days previous to a ceremonial the 

 masks, which are made of hide and cover the head, are taken from 

 storage, filled with damp sand to soften them and bring them into 

 shape, and placed along the north ledge of the large room, vacated for 

 this purpose by the family, in the dwelling of the priest, or director, 

 of the Kia'nakwe organization. Five days later the decoration of the 

 masks begins. Four days are consumed in decorating the masks and 

 attending to various details connected with the paraphernalia. This 

 work, which is performed by the men who are to take part in the 

 ceremon}^, is begun each morning and stops at sunset. Great secrecy 

 is observed throughout the preparation for this ceremonial, and no 

 one but those who have duties to perform may enter the room." 



The twelve songs that are sung during the ceremonies are archaic, the 

 Zuiiis say, though thej?^ admit that these songs are in the Sia tongue, 

 which was the language of the Kia'nakwe. A newl}^ appointed person 

 requires much time to learn the songs; therefore, during the summer, 

 when the day's work in the fields is over, those who are to take part 

 in the Kia'nakwe ceremonial frequently meet and rehearse them. The 

 rain priest and his associate have the same relative positions as the 

 Kia'kwemosi and the pe'kwin of Zuiii. 



When the Kia'nakwe are about to appear, those who are to per- 

 sonate them and their prisoners assemble 2 miles south of Zuni. 

 After painting their entire bodies with the pinkish day used by the 

 personators of anthropic gods, which is applied so thin that the color 

 is scarcelj^ to be discerned, they dress themselves in their mi'hawe* 

 and masks and return to the village. Plate xlii shows them cross- 

 ing the bridge over the river. The house tops are filled with men, 

 women, and children, all eager to have the first look at the gods as they 

 approach from over the southern hills singing a low chant. The priest 

 leads, followed by his deputy. They wear white cotton shirts, white 

 embroidered blankets, each having four dark fluff 3^ eagle plumes 

 attached, front and back, in the form of a square. They wear leggings 



uThe writer was present by special invitation of the priest of the organization. 

 ftMi'hawe is plural for mi'ha, sacred embroidered blanket. 



