STEVENSON] NIGHT CEREMONIES OF SHA'laKO GODS 251 



for them which was the last canipintv phice of the Zuiiis during thoir 

 mio-rations in quest of the Middle of the world. This ground which 

 is about 200 feet from north to south and 150 feet from east to west 

 has been watered and stamped until it is level and smooth. Two 

 Sha'liiko stand on the loft and two on the east side of the ground, 

 while the other two run back and forth, starting from opposite sides, 

 and return. Each Sha'liiko takes his turn in running. They remain 

 on the ground until after dark, then proceed to the village, each Sha'- 

 lako, with his attendants, going to the house where he is to remain 

 during the night. On reaching the house the personator of the 

 Sha'liiko, not the present bearer of the effigy, deposits te'likinawe in 

 the excavation under the ladder. His alternate repeats the act, and 

 both sprinkle meal while the effigy ])earer and others stand b^-, the 

 attendants singing to the accompaniment of the rattle. As they ascend 

 the ladder the rattle, drum, and song are heard within. The attend- 

 ants remain on the roof and sing, while the effigy bearer, the p3r- 

 sonator of the Sha'liiko, with his fellow, descend into the house. They 

 are led by the master of the house, his wife and daughters, and the 

 mo'sona of the fraternit}- which is to officiate, who carries his mi'li and 

 his meal basket, from which he sprinkles meal as he proceeds. The 

 room in which the ceremony here described is held is 60 feet long and 

 over 20 feet wide. The maker of medicine water sits by a medicine 

 bowl at the north side of the altar. The meml^ers of the fraternity are 

 grouped on the south side of the room toward the west end. As the 

 Sha'liiko and party enter the room the effigy bearer, with the jwrsonator 

 of Sha'liiko and his fellow, pass to the west end of the room, where the 

 figure is placed on a blanket rug north of the altar, there being a small 

 circular opening in the stone floor to hold the pole to which it is attached. 

 A large blanket is held so as to screen the figure while the bearer slips 

 out and stands it in position. While the effigy is being placed by the 

 Sha'liiko wor'li, the personator of the Sha'liiko, deposits seeds, a gift to 

 the host, from his belt into a basket ))y the altai", and he also takes meal, 

 from his belt and marks four lines on each wall — north, west, south, 

 and east — by carrying the meal with his four fingers 2 feet down each 

 wall. His alternate follows and strikes the meal lines four times 

 with a bunch of giant yucca. A ladder is now held by five men, and 

 the personator of the Sha'liiko ascends and repeats the ceremony of 

 Sa'yatiisha, attaching two te'likinawe to the symbolic house of the 

 clouds that is fastened to the rafters. The choir of the Hunters fra- 

 ternity, accompanied b}'^ rattles and drum, the flutist playing and a 

 warrior of the fraternit}" whirling a rhombus, ])egins as soon as the 

 personator of the Sha'liiko steps upon the first rung of the ladder. 

 The depositing of offerings in the floor beneath and the act of standing 

 on the corn-husk package is also repeated here. His alternate follows 

 each time and sprinkles meal, and the maker of medicine water beats 

 time with two eagle plumes that he holds in each hand. 



