STEVENSON] MINOR CEREMONIES OF THE SHa'lAKO 231 



after they were seated took the little one.s in their arms and played with 

 them, to the interruption of their meal. At the close of the meal food 

 wrapped in corn husks was handed to the man who was to personate the 

 Sha'liiko and to his fellow by the member of the household to whom 

 the te'likinane was given at the winter solstice. The food was carried 

 to the river and deposited to the Kok'ko A'wan (Council of the Gods).'* 

 The Sha'liiko festival is thegreat autumn celebration, and is of more 

 general interest to the Zufiis, and also to the Indians of the surrounding 

 countr3\ than all the others. At no other time is there such feasting 

 among them. The larders are kept filled. The poorer class of Zunis 

 often give all they possess to their welcome and unwelcome guests, 

 regardless of the suffering in store for them when the festival will have 

 closed and the visitors, who have satiated their appetites at their 

 expense, will have gone. Among these unwelcome guests are the 

 Navahos. for whom, except in a few instances where a friendship has 

 sprung up, the Zunis have scant amity. The Navahos have not the 

 slightest hesitancy in riding up to a house, unsaddling their horses, 

 walking in, and remaining as long as it ma}' suit their pleasure; and 

 the Zunis accept the inevitable as graciously as possible. 



Minor Ceremonies 



Though the great festival takes place in the autumn, minor ceremo- 

 nies occur each month following the winter solstice, at which time the 

 personators of the gods who are represented in this festival are 

 appointed. They meet twice each month to rehearse their songs, and 

 each month in the last quarter of the moon te'likinawe are deposited 

 at some shrine to these gods. 



In January the chosen Sa'3'at:isha '^' visits the house of the new A'wan 

 ta"chu Ko'yemshi, and the two remain together until far into the night. 

 The following ihorning the personator of Sa'yatiisha goes on horse- 

 back to Nutria (a farming district) to gather cottonwood, returning as 

 earh' as possible. After reaching his home and depositing the bulk of 

 the branches, he carries a small bundle of them to the house where the 

 masks of the Ko'3'emshi are kept and where the Great Father Ko'yem- 

 shi awaits him. The two talk together for a while. The six person- 

 ators of the Sha'liiko also gather cottonwood for their te'likinawe. 

 Early in the following morning the Great Father Ko'yemshi, ha\ing 

 selected his nine fellows, requests them to assemble at his house. 



Those who are to personate the Council of the Gods go to the house 

 of the personator of Sa'vatsisha, who inquires of Shu'laawi'si whom he 

 has chosen to be his ceremonial father. The latter replying. Sa'\at;isha 

 requests him to bring the father, who may be of any clan: in 1896 he 

 belonged to the Corn clan. On his retui'n Shu'laawi'si holds the 



a Seu p. 33. 



