STEVENSON] NIGHT CEREMONIES OF COUNCIL OF THE GODS 



247 



The plumes are placed, with prayers for rains, o-ood crops, health 

 and long- lite to the faniil_v of the house, and all good which can come 

 to man through the pure breath of the breath of life, the breath of 

 i^'wonawil'ona, who pervades all space. As Sa'yatasha steps from the 

 platform, Yii'muhakto takes his place and sprinkles the te'likinawe 

 with meal, the other gods shaking their rattles at this time. Ya'mu- 

 hakto is followed 1)\^ the others, who sprinkle the te'likinawe with 

 meal, and pra}', after which Sa'yatasha deposits offerings through a 

 circular opening- about 4 inches in diameter, beneath the stone floor 

 directl}' under the cage, the excavation l)eing as deep as the length of 

 a man's arm to the elbow. These circular openings are svmbolic 

 of the entrance to A'witen te'hula (fourth world) and are so carefullv 

 covered, when not open for such occasions as described, that one would 

 not suspect their existence, A diminutive game of 'si'kon-ya'nuuie 

 ti'kwane with la'showawe attached, grains of corn of the colors of the 

 six regions, sweet corn, squash, watermelon, and nuiskujclon seeds 

 are deposited as seeds in the earth, the ofl'erings placed l)elow being- 

 symbolic of the seeds of life, those placed above of life itself. 

 Pra^'ers are offered for the seeds to grow into life, and for rains, 

 much corn, and that the children of the house may grow to manhood 

 and womanhood without disease; ma}^ grow old, not die, but sleep to 

 awake in Ko'thluwala'wa. After every god has sprinkled meal into 

 the opening and prayed, the music of the choir and flute ceases and 

 the warrior lays away his rhombus. Sa'yatasha and each god in 

 succession stands with the left foot on a small package wrapped in corn 

 husks and prays that their enemies may succund) to their children, and 

 they again stamp about the floor before taking- seats. Each god is 

 seated on the north side of the chamber by the Kia'kwemosi, who places 

 his hands on the shoulder of each one, beginning with the Sa'yatiisha, 

 and motions him to the six regions. Shu'Iaawi'si remains on the floor 

 a short time after the others. The following diagram gives the position 

 of the first bodv of A'shiwanni and gods as thev are seated vis-a-vis: 



1 Ceremonial lather ui Sbu^laawi'i^i, seated next to the aUar. 



Shi'wanni of the Zenith (sun priest) 

 8hi'\vanniot't!ieNiirth( KTa'kweniusi) 

 Associate Shi'wanni of the North 

 Shi'wanni of tlie West 

 Shi'vvanni of the South 

 Shi'wanni of the East 



8^ Shi'wainii of the NaiHr and elder 

 brother liow priest 



9' Younger brother Bow priest 



