STEVENSON] FESTIVAL OF THE SHA'lIKO 227 



ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE SHA'LAKO 



It was mentioned in treating of the winter solstice festival that those 

 who are to personate the Council of the Gods, the Sha'lako (giant 

 couriers of the rain-makers) and the Ko'yenislii, and those who are to 

 entertain these gods are decided upon during the winter solstice cere- 

 monies. One of the eight new or reconstructed houses is blessed 

 by the Council of the Gods, six each by a Sha'lako, and one b}' the 

 Ko'yerashi. 



The large te'likinane given in the ki'wi'^sine at the winter solstice to 

 each man who is to entertain the Sha'lako is kept in his house, and is 

 brought out from its resting place b}^ him at intervals when the mem- 

 bers of his and of his wife's clan gather in the house with his family 

 while he holds the te'likinane and prays. The praj-er, which is long, 

 is a supplication for life, health, and happiness. 



At the close of the festival of the Sha'lako the Ko'yemshi collect 

 these te'likinawe from the different houses and deposit them, except 

 the one given to the host of the Council of the Gods, which is carried 

 by Sa'yatasha to his home and afterward planted by him. 



When the ceremonial house of the Kia'kwemosi is to be repaired the 

 work is done by the people of his clan, the workmen being appointed 

 by the pe'kwin (sun priest), some member of the governor's staff call- 

 ing from the house top each morning the names of those selected to 

 labor during the da3^ Several gods are present at this time to see that 

 all hands keep at work. Each ki'wi'sine is repaired b}^ its members. 

 As the ceremonial chambers of the fraternities are general living rooms 

 of families at all other times than when the ceremonials occur, there 

 is no special building or repairing of these aside from the general 

 house structui'e. The walls are whitened and sometimes decorated 

 for ceremonials, the whitening being done b^^the women of the house 

 and the decorating by members of the fraternitj'; in some cases 

 decorations remain permanent!}" on the walls. 



In building or reconstructing houses the wor'li (manager) details 

 members to work on the house in which his ki'wi'sine is to be repre- 

 sented b}^ a Sha'lako. Personators of the Council of the Gods and 

 Ko'yemshi direct men of their ki'wi'siwe to work upon the houses in 

 which they are to appear. Their wives and daughters and tin; wonuMi 

 of their clans wait upon the builders. 



Houses of either a domestic or a religious character that are to be 

 constructed or remodeled must be in order before the coming of the 

 Sha'liiko. Such work is often delayed from day to day. and toward the 

 end nuist be expedited to be ready at the prescril)ed time. 



Zuni, like a beehive in its peculiar construction, is most like one 

 when house building is in progress. The streets near by are filled 

 with men, women, and children. 



