312 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



smiled upon them and whispered, " 1 can not talk." The foster brother 

 was as devoted as the one related by blood. 



During two da>'s the family hoped against hope. Nai'uchi, the 

 great theurgist, came three times and pretended to draw from the 

 region of the heart bits of mutton, declared to have been "shot" 

 there by a witch who was angry with We'wha for not giving her a 

 quarter of mutton when she asked for it. We'wha appeared relieved 

 when the theurgist left. She knew that she was dying and appeared 

 to desire quiet. After Nai'uchi's last visit, the foster brother, with 

 streaming eyes, prepared te'likinawe (prayer plumes) for the dying, 

 the theurgist having said that her moments on earth were few. 

 We'wha asked the writer to come close and in a feeble voice she said, 

 in English: "Mother, I am going to the other world. I will tell the 

 gods of you and Captain Stevenson. 1 will tell them of Captain 

 Carlisle, the great seed priest," and his Avife, whom 1 love. They are 

 my friends. Tell them good-b}". Tell all ni}^ friends in Washington 

 good-by. Tell President Cleveland, my friend, good-by. Mother, 

 love all my people; protect them; they are your children; you are 

 their mother." These sentences were spoken withman}^ breaks. The 

 family seemed somewhat grieved that We'wha's last words should be 

 given to the writer, but she understood that the thoughts of the dying 

 were with and for her own people. A good-by was said to the others, 

 and she asked for more light. 



It is the custom for a member of the family to hold the prayer 

 plumes near the mouth of the dying and repeat the prayer, but this 

 practice was not observed in We'wha's case. She requested the writer 

 to raise the back of the chair, and when this was done she asked if her 

 prayer plumes had been made. Her foster brother answered "Yes," 

 whereupon she requested him to bring them. The family suppressed 

 their sobs that the dying might not be made sad. The brother ofi'ered 

 to hold the plumes and say the prayers, but We'wha feebly extended 

 her hand for them, and clasping the prayer plumes between her hands 

 made a great eli'ort to speak. She said but a few words and then sank 

 back in her chair. Again the brother offered to hold the plumes and 

 pra}^, but once more she refused. Her face was radiant in the belief 

 that she was going to her gods. She leaned forward with the plumes 

 tightly clasped, and as the setting sun lighted up the western win- 

 dows, darkness and desolation entered the hearts of the mourners, for 

 We'wha was dead. 



Blankets were spread upon the floor and the brothers gently laid the 

 lifeless form upon them. After the body was bathed and rubbed with 

 meal, a pair of white cotton trousers were drawn over the legs, the 



« At the time of We'wha's visit to Washington Hon. John G. Carlisle was Speaker of the House of 

 Representatives. The Speaker and Mrs Carlisle were very kind to We'wha, and upon her return to 

 Zuiii she found a great sack of seed which had been sent by the Speaker. 



