2t>4 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



In cold weather the leader frequently has a blanket in addition to his other dress, 

 worn with the grace with which only an Indian can wear the blanket. A line of 

 micaceous hematite crosses his face below the eyes, denoting office, and a fluffy eagle 

 plume is tied to the forelock. He carries his mi^li and meal basket. 



It will be understood that in all ceremonials where men and women act in the 

 capacity of leaders of dancers or serve to secure dancers for the festivals, the dress is 

 similar to that described above. Any exceptions will be noted. The leader is never 

 included in the number of dancers. 



The He'mishiikwe are met at the entrance by the host of the house, 

 who carries a meal basket and throws out a line of meal before him 

 as he leads the dancers down the room. Each He'mishiikwe has 

 his bod}^ and limbs colored purple with dye from the berry of Ber- 

 beris fremontii. He wears a white embroidered kilt held on by a 

 white fringed sash and a woman's red belt tied in loops at the right 

 side, a fox skin pendent at the back of the waist, and a tortoise-shell 

 rattle attached to the calf of the right leg. Bunches of blue ^^arn 

 with sleigh bells attached are tied in tassels below the knees, and 

 dance moccasins are worn. No masks are worn on this occasion by 

 those dancing in line, though a few maskers appear with each party of 

 dancers. Each He'mishiikwe carries a spruce twig in the left hand 

 and a gourd r.ittle, colored pink, in the right. The drum, rectangular 

 in form and wrapped with rope, is made of undressed hide, the hair 

 on the inner side. The dancers enter in single tile and proceed 

 down the room raising the right foot high and balancing on the 

 left, the heel only of the left foot being raised from the floor. This 

 is a common step in all dances where the anthropic gods are person- 

 ated. On reaching the north end of the room on the Avest side they 

 remain in tile, and, facing north, the left arm of each dancer is slightly 

 bent and held at the side; the right arm is also slightl}" bent, but less than 

 the left. The movement is with the right foot, the left one being used to 

 balance. Four boAs, who are masked, accompan}' the He'mishiikwe and 

 take seats on the west ledge by the dancers, two of them playing on 

 notched sticks during certain portions of the dance, the lower sticks 

 resting on boxes. After shaking the rattle the He'mishiikwe wave 1 )oth 

 hands to the left, then to the right, and repeat the motion, the rattle 

 being kept in eonstantaction. The body is now bent forward to the left, 

 the left hand being held to the side and the right hand hanging, as a 

 long, rapid, even musical shake of the rattle is given. All now turn 

 and face the east and give a long, steadv shake of the rattle. The tirst 

 movement is repeated, the right foot is raised high, and they stamp 

 four times very quickh" w^hile the rattle is held low and shaken. But 

 this time the sound is altogether diflerent; it is loud, while the other 

 is like the shaking of man^^ seeds. After the stamping the hands are 

 waved to the left and then to the right live times; then tiie body is 

 bent still lower and the stamping repeated eight times. Raising the 

 body, the first movemei^t is repeated as they all turn, facing the north, 



