228 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



In 1884 the reconstruction of a house of more than ordinary impor- 

 tance occupied attention. It was the ceremonial house of the Kia'kwe- 

 a'mosi (first body of A'shiwanni), usually referred to as the house of 

 the Kia'kwemosi (Shiwanni of the North). It was not his place of 

 residence, however, the custom of the husband going to the wife's 

 house applying to the Kia'kwemosi also. His sister occupied the 

 house until its destruction by lightning, which also caused her death. 

 The Zunis say she had no love in her heart for the Kia'kwemosi, her 

 brother; that lightning never destroys the good of heart. The 

 A'shiwanni rejoiced that the room of the et'tone" of the Kia'kwemosi, 

 which is immediately over the center of the world, was not disturbed. 



On this occasion there are present two Sa'ya*hlia (see plate xvi), three 

 A'toshle (two males and one female), four Ko'yemshi (see plate va); 

 and three membei-s of the Ne'wekwe (Galax}' fraternity), each carrying 

 his bauble. Each Sa'ya*hlia wears a white cotton embroidered kilt, 

 with a sash of the same material and a woman's red belt tied on the left 

 side. A finely dressed deerskin is fastened on the right shoulder, pass- 

 ing under the left arm. Bands of leather, painted l)lue-green and edged 

 with three points of unpainted leather, ornament the upper arms. A 

 leather thong several inches long, tipped with a turkey plume, is 

 attached to each point. Bunches of native blue yarn with long tassels 

 encircle the wrists and are also worn below the knees. Dance moccasins 

 complete the costume. The entire body is painted with the pinkish 

 clay before referred to. Bows and arrows are carried in the left hand, 

 and in the right tortoise-shell rattles and bunches of giant yucca. 

 Two of the A'toshle are similarh' dressed. The female wears ordinary 

 woman's dress, and a white cotton blanket bordered with red and blue 

 stripes is tied at her neck, falling over the back. The Ko'yemshi 

 have their nude bodies and masks colored with the pinkish clay. The 

 ragged kilt is worn, and a three-cornered piece of the same native 

 cloth is tied to the base of the mask. 



The Ne'wekwe, attired in cast-ofi:' uniforms of the United States 

 Army, are supposed to lend assistance to the laborers, but they do 

 little else than eat filth and play the fool. The Ko'3^emshi scamper 

 about over the house tops and indulge in jokes and other nonsense, 

 while the Sa'ya*hlia go about the village with bunches of yucca, driving 

 the delinquents to work. The A'toshle also carry giant yucca, which 

 they use Avithout the slightest hesitancy, and they are supplied with 

 large stone knives with- which they threaten to cut ofi' the heads of 

 naughty and disobedient children. 



While there is much work in the house building there is also much 

 pleasure. The women chatter the gossip of the day, men pass their 

 jokes, 3^ouths and maidens laugh joyously at one another's expense, 



"See A'shiwanni (rain priesthood). 



