270 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



fraternity. The writer has never seen as large a number of men so advanced in years 

 actively associated with any of the other fraternities. One or two appeared to be 

 at least 85. It was most interesting to see these men imbued with all the vigor and 

 vitality of youth, their shapely limbs as nimble as those of the younger men who 

 danced before them. 



The director of the fraternity left the ellipse and advanced to the center. After a 

 time the A^kwamosi (maker of medicine water) , who retained his seat by the side of 

 the altar up to this time, carried the basket containing the eagle feathers, tied in 

 twos, to the director, who took one bunch, singing all the while, and, holding it up, 

 danced about in the most fantastic manner, the plume in his own white hair bending 

 with the breeze. After a time he handed the feathers to one of the Ko'yemshi, who 

 danced in the center of the ellipse with him, and, running to the lamp, Avhich had 

 been lighted, he passed the feathers through the flame, bringing out two charred bits. 

 Eeturning to the circle he danced and sang, pressing the crispy atoms to his breast, 

 making desperate efforts to accomplish something, the writer could not imagine 

 what. Failing in his efforts, he returned what remained of the feathers to the director, 

 who continued to dance. After a while a member of the fraternity left the ellipse and 

 drew near to the director, who handed him the charred bits; he immediately ran to 

 the lamp and passed them through the flame with curious antics and returning to 

 the ellipse, pressed them to his nude body. After dancing and singing a short time, 

 all the while pressing the atoms to his breast, two beautiful white plumes appeared. 



A similar trick was performed in 1896 by the Little Fire f raternit}^ in 

 the house dedicated b}^ the Ko'j^emshi. All altars have been removed 

 from the houses except the one dedicated b}- the Ko'yemshi. Here the 

 altar remains intact with the mi'wachi. Two bowls of medicine water 

 and two large flat baskets of grains of corn of all colors are b}" the 

 altar, and the small flute of the fraternity is immediately before it. 

 The Ko'3'emshi sit in line on the west side of the room wrapped in 

 their blankets; the}^ wear their moccasins. At half past 8 in the evening 

 twenty-four members of the fraternity' retire to an adjoining room to 

 prepare for the dance. When they reappear, their bodies are elabo- 

 rately decorated in white kaolin to represent the heavens, prey animals, 

 and lightning; the only ones privileged to use the lightning symbol 

 being such members as belong also to the A'pi^lashiwanni (Bow priest- 

 hood) and the order of the Arrow in the Great Fire fraternity. Each 

 wears a native black breechcloth embroidered at the ends in dark blue. 

 Each member of the Bow priesthood wears his war pouch, and his wand 

 which is usually attached to the bandoleer near the shoulder. Yucca 

 ribbons are worn around the head, and their breasts are covered with a 

 profusion of necklaces. The director is the first to enter the room. 

 He takes his seat before the altar on the east side, facing south, and the 

 others, who closely follow, group themselves near him and, after a 

 prayer, indulge in a smoke. The Ko'3^emshi now remove their mocca- 

 sins, put on their masks, and throwing oS' their blankets expose the 

 ragged black kilt. The members of the fraternity form in a file, led by 

 a woman of the fraternity. Her necklaces are numerous and rare, and 

 her moccasins are of the finest quality. She carries a meal basket in 

 the left hand and her mi'li in the right. The last man in the line is 



