262 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



main features of these ceremonies. Each o'taikia mo'sona (dance 

 director) makes every effort to have his dance excel the others. 

 The number of dances varies from time to time. Juggler}^ differs as 

 it is performed by the different fraternities, depending on the one 

 to which the Great Father Ko'yemshi is associated at the time of the 

 festival. There is but little done the ffr.st night following the dis- 

 appearance of the Sha'liiko, the men being too much engrossed in 

 debauchery to attend to obligations to their gods. Liquor is the only 

 thing that prevents these Indians from performing their religious 

 duties." 



The dances described occurred in 1891 on the fifth night following the 

 arrival of the Sha'lako in the house of Roman Luna, a hard}- old Indian, 

 as brave as a lion, 3"et as gentle as a child. Masks of the *Cha'kwena 

 (certain anthropic gods) hang against the west wall of the large room 

 toward the north end. Thej^ are covered with a strip of calico, the tips 

 only of the long beards showing beneath the covering. At an earl}^ 

 hour the ledge around the room, which extends north and south, is 

 well filled wdth spectators. One group of 3^oung men not familiar with 

 the songs of the *Cha'kwena, which are in the Laguna tongue, are 

 receiving instructions from a Laguna Indian but recenth" returned 

 from Carlisle, for this song is a praj-er to the gods of his people. He 

 seems as full}' absorbed in his native worship as though he had not 

 been instructed for years at the expense of the Government, The 

 song is very low at first, but it gradually swells into louder and louder 

 bass tones, which are very pleasing. 



The large openings in the wall which divide the front and back 

 rooms, through which the Sha'lako ceremou}^ was observed, are left 

 for the convenience and pleasure of the Zuiii aristocracy, principally 

 the younger members of this set, who wish to observe apart from the 

 mass of people who crowd the room. During the dances many of the 

 older women and children and the more sober maidens of the elite 

 occupy seats with the more common people on the east side of the 

 large room, but the privileged ones adjourn to the back room during 

 the intermissions. Two Acoma Indians in this room, teaching three 

 Zunis song prayers in their tongue, draw about them a few listeners. 

 The writer observes that several elderl}^ women are the most interested, 

 except those receiving instruction. The scene through the openings 

 in the wall is most pleasing. Lights and shadows, according to the 

 freaks of the fire in the back room, play about the faces of the dusky 

 maidens and souths, who are seated on chairs and boxes. Occasionalh' 

 merr}' laughter is heard when the young men sa}" pleasing or amusing- 

 words to the girls. 



"Since Mr Douglas D. Graham has had the Zuui Indians in charge there is much less dissipation 

 among them. It is certain that he will see that the law is executed if it be within his power, and 

 that liquor is kept from them. 



