STEVENSON] NIGHT CEREMONIES OF COUNCIL OF THE GODS 245 



the hatchway. The lower doors leading to the street are barred on 

 such occasions. The plume plantinu- at the ladder and the other cere- 

 monies are repeated by Sa'yatiisha, Ilu'tutu, and the Ya'nuihakto, after 

 which they ascend the ladder/' 



The first body of A'shiwanni, the Ko'mosona, the Ko'pekwin. and 

 two A'pi"lashiwanni remain at He'patina to receive the Sha'liiko, wlio 

 follows after the Council of the Gods; then hasten to the house of the 

 Kia'kwemosi, where the Council of the Gods are closing the ceremo- 

 nies over the excavation in front of the house. 



Crowds have gathered before the Kia'kwemosi's house to see the 

 last of the gods before the}^ retire from the streets. On ascending to 

 the roof the Council is met by the Kia'kwemosi, his wife and 

 daughters, and the mo'sona (director) of the U'huhukwe (Eagle down) 

 fraternity (this fraternity having been invited to assist in the ceremo- 

 nies), who pray and sprinkle meal upon the gods, each member of the 

 family first sprinkling meal through a small opening in the roof. The 

 family and the mo'sona, who carries his mi'li and meal basket, precede 

 the gods to the chamber below. 



While the wdiite visitors are hastening to enter a side room in the 

 hope of reaching the ceremonial chamber, they are ordered by a hun- 

 dred or more voices to come awa3^ One man, more persistent than 

 the others, follows, declaring that no American shall enter. The Kia'- 

 kwemosi,* hearing the disturbance, leaves the ceremonial chamber by 

 the side entrance, and, reproving the man in severe words for intrud- 

 ing upon forbidden ground, escorts the guests to the chamber and 

 seats them by the altar which stands in the west end of the long room 

 and then returns to his place with the other A'shiwanni. The altar 

 (see plate lviii) shows the following objects: 



1, cougar of cream-yellow sandstone; 2, bear of black lava; 3, bison of l)lack lava; 

 4, badger of red sandstone; 5, white wolf of white quartz; 6, medicine stone 12 

 inches long and 2 inches in diameter of highly polished lava; 7, bear's foot, with 

 claws, north side of altar; 8, bear's foot, with claws, and two eagle-wing plumes 

 south side of altar; 9, flute; 10, sacred' meal basket; 11, medicine bowl witli two 

 eagle-wing plumes; 12, food; 13, human image in stone; 14, Apache basket of te'iik- 

 inawe. The number of mi^wachi*' at the altar shows the large membership of tin- 

 order of O'naya^nakia (Mystery medicine) in the lyhuhukwe fraternity. The altar 

 itself is constructed of slabs and tablets of wood. The latter are supported by two 

 solid bars of wood laid upon the floor. The tablets are surmounted by faces of 

 Ku'pishtaya (lightning-makers), the lower portion of the face symbolizing black 

 rain clouds. Symbols of cumulus clouds, a bird resting on each, surmount tiie faces. 

 The yellow cougar of the North and the red cougar of the South, each having the 

 heart and the breath line indicated, decorate the two front tablets. Two lightning 



oThe entrance of this group of gods into the house and the ceremonies within are always the sjime 

 in their main features. Elaborate preparations were made for the reception of these gods in 1H79 in 

 the dwelling of the Kia'kwemosi. 



bToo much can not be said in praise of this KTa'kwemosi, who has since died. In dignity, cour- 

 tesy, and graciousness he could not be surpassed by any civilized man, and the writer owes him a. 

 debt of gratitude for his aid, which was at all times cheerfully given, in acciuiring knowledge of the 

 most sacred rites of the Zuiiis. 



cSeep. 416. 



