STEVENSON] MORNING CEREMONIES OF THE SHA'lAKO 261 



brothers, the A'shiwanni u'wannami of the East; and the A'sliiwanni 

 u'wannami of the West send their courier to their younger brothers, 

 the A'shiwanni u'wannami of the Nadir; and so also the A'shiwanni 

 u'wannami of the South dispatches their courier to the A'shiwanni 

 u'wannami of the Zenith. Any one of these couriers may also be sent 

 to any other or all of the regions when it is desired that the rain-makers 

 of all the regions should lend their aid in watering the earth. The 

 prayers of the personators of the Council of the Gods and Sha'liiko at 

 this season are for rains fi'om all quarters, that the rivers ma}' l)e great 

 and come dashing through the canj'^ons; that the streams may swell like 

 rivers, flooding the water courses; and that the lakes may grow large 

 and the wells be tilled to overflowing, so that the earth may give to 

 them the fullness of her being. These praj^ers are accentuated by the 

 drama on the ceremonial ground. 



The last participants in the ritual have no sooner left the tield than 

 it is filled with those who may not come when the gods are here. Num- 

 bers of Navahos, wrapped in their best blankets, their horses res[)len- 

 dent in silver bridles and silver-mounted saddles, make a brilliant 

 picture as they dash across the stream to the recently forbidden 

 ground, now free to all. Rut far more exciting is the race of 2(>o or 

 more Navahos, mounted on their fleetest ponies. After their return 

 the afternoon is consumed in equestrian and foot racing with the 

 Zunis, the latter winning in almost every instance, leaving the field 

 with ponies, fine blankets, and silver and coral beads. Though the 

 streets are filled with men too drunk to move, others are sober enough 

 to participate in the pastime which delights the heart of al)original 

 man as well as his more civilized ])rothers. 



This is indeed a gala time for the Zunis. After the last of the 

 Sha'liiko have disappeared over the hills the ten personators of the 

 Ko'yemshi appear in daylight for the first time since their appointment 

 to ofiice, except when they leave their retreat for wood. Their absence 

 during the ceremonial of the Sha'lako is noticeable, as the Ko'yemshi 

 appear on most occasions of the coming of the gods, acting as their 

 attendants, arranging any portion of their dress which may have 

 become disarranged, and playing the clown or fool during the inter- 

 vals of the dance. After emerging from their ceremonial chamber 

 the Ko'yemshi visit every house top in the village, sprinkling meal, 

 singing, dancing, and acting, in primitive comedy. They are sup- 

 ported in these i)lays by women inside the houses, whose voices can 

 be heard through the hatchway in the roof. 



Ceremonies Folloavinc; the Sha'lako Festival of lS<tl. 



An elaborate display is supposed to he made for five consecutvie 

 nights, by order of the gods, by representatives from all of the 

 ki'wi'siwe. There is little or no diflerence from year to year in the 



