800 THE ZLTNl INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



wil'oiia for long life and health to the child." After the i)rayer the doctress raised 

 the cotton cloth and sprinkled a line of meal from east to west over the sand bed, 

 symbolic of the straight path the child must follow in order to receive the blessings 

 of A'wonawiFona and the Sun Father. The cloth was then returned to its place, the 

 child was laid upon the bed, and the single ear of corn was placed at its left side. 

 The maternal grandmother covered the child with a small blanket, which, was a 

 gift from herself. The doctress then struck the sides and ends in turrt of a quaint 

 little stool against the floor at the head of the bed, and placed it finally on its side 

 at the head of the bed, with the seat next to the bed. An Apache basket tray was 

 inverted over the child's head, one side resting on the edge of the stool, the other 

 on the blanket covering, so as to raise from the face a cotton cloth which was thrown 

 over the liead. A small blanket was placed over the cotton covering. An occasional 

 faint sound was to be heard from the infant, which caused genuine delight to the 

 family and friends. The nii_ither-in-law next proceeded to prepare the mother's 

 bed with the second portion of sand, first heating the sand in the manner descriljed. 

 The ear of corn having three plunmles W'as placed to the left of the bed, and when 

 the young mother took her seat upon her bed, a bowl of nuitton stew, a basket of 

 mush boiled in corn husks, and a basket tray of wafer bread were deposited on the 

 floor beside her. A number joined in the meal, none eating with more relish than 

 the young mother, who sat up an hour and a half. During the meal the paternal 

 grandfather of the infant came from the inner room. At this moment the child 

 gave its first vigorous cry, which delighted all present, especially the grandfather. 

 One hour after the birth of the child the mother's pulse was 80. At the first peep 

 of the sun on the morning following the birth, the doctress who delivered the 

 young mother, having been supplied with a vase of warm water, a gourd, and a 

 basket of ashes, pi'oceeded to bathe the infant. Dipping a gourd of water, she 

 filled her mouth, and pouring the water from her mouth over the head of the 

 child, washed its face and head, rubbing quite vigorously, after which ashes were 

 rubbed over the face, a quantity adhering to the skin. ^ The infant's paternal 

 grandmother now folded a blanket and laid it over the extended legs of the doctress, 

 who placed the infant upon the blanket, its head against her upturned feet. The 

 doctress sprinkled the breast of the infant with water, using her right hand, with a 

 prayer for long life and health of the child; and, dipping her hand into the vase of 

 water, she proceeded to bathe the child. After the bath the child's entire body was 

 rubbed over with ashes. The cloth which had previously wrapped the infant was 

 tthanged for another, which, however, was neither new nor clean. A blanket that 

 had been previously warmed by the fire was afterward placed around the child. 

 The young mother observed the bathing and wrapping of her infant with great 

 interest. The infant was next laid upon a fresh sand bed prepared by the pater- 

 nal grandmother, and the young mother walked to her bed and lay down, while 

 a doctress bathed the lacerated perineum with warm root tea and afterward sprin- 

 kled the affected j^arts with a powder, <^ after which she manipulated the abt^omen 

 for thirty minutes. The young mother then sat upon the ledge by the fire while 

 a fresli sand bed was prepared for her. After a time the child was platted to the 

 breast, but it failed to get nourishment, though it made persistent effort. The 

 hot juniper tea was drunk constantly after the confinement for the purpose of 



f'The Ziriiis believe that the span of life is marked out at birth, This belief, however, does not 

 prevent their incessant prayers to A'wonawil'ona (the supreme power; see p. 22) for health and a 

 long life. 



bThe Zufiis declare that in four days from the putting on of the ashes e.xfoliation occurs and a new 

 skin appears. Ashes are used throughout the first year to render the face and other parts of the body 

 depilous. With rare exceptions, these people are depilous, except on the scalp. 



I' In aggravated cases of laceration certain male theurgists are called in. In the case here men- 

 tioned the parts appeared to be entirely healed after the eighth day. The tea and powder were used 

 only four days. The powder secured by the writer was not of sufficient quantity to admit an analysis. 



