278 



THE ZUNI INDIANS 



[ETH. ANN. 23 



After Bi'^si'si goes to the ki'wi*sine the Ko'mosona and the Ko'- 

 pekwin leave the plaza, where they have received corn from the 

 Mu'luktilkia gods, and return to the ki'wi'sine. The plaza, kaleido- 

 scopic with the various dancers until half past 3 o'clock, forms a 

 striking picture, especiallj' when several lines are dancing simulta- 

 neouslv in their brilliant dress, their bodies swaying in rhythmic 

 motion. Each time the}' come they bring corn, which is received by 

 some of the officiating priests and carried to the ki'wi'sine. When 

 the dancers leave the plaza for the last time, they are supposed to 

 go to Chi pia,^' in the east, to visit the anthropic gods who live there 

 and then return to Ko'thluwala'wa l)y a northern route. In fact, 



Fk;. 9— Depositing prayer plumes at Ku'shilowa. 



they visit Ku'shilowa, just beyond the eastern side of the town, 

 where they deposit their te'likinawe. All the members of the Ko'ti- 

 kili (mythologic fraternity) visit Ku'shilowa sometime during the 

 afternoon, each carrying his Kor'kokshi mask and eight te'likinawe, 

 of which four are planted to Kok'ko A'wa (all the gods) and four to 

 Ko'yemshi (see figure 9). Those who are absent from Zuni or are 

 unable to go must have their masks and offerings carried by others. 



While the personators of the mo'lawe gather at Ku'shilowa, the 

 chosen women (see note e, p. 277) congregate at the southeast point in 

 the village, each carrying on her back, held on by a blanket around her 

 waist, an offering of a watermelon and seeds to be made by a mo'lawa 

 (singular of mo'lawe), each donation having been supplied from the 



a See p. 407. 



