STEVENSON] GAMES 3 4 i 



Ya'chuni sa'wanni. This game, equivalent to oar ring-around-a- 

 rosy, is one of the games played in the sacred dance court b}' the 

 Ko'yemshi and the Galaxy fraternity between the dances. A circle of 

 men with hands clasped is formed about one in the middle, who aims 

 to catch one of the others as they jump around. He is frequently 

 whispered to as to whom to choose. When one is caught, he takes 

 his place within the circle, and his predecessor leaves the game alto- 

 gether. When the number is reduced to three, the amusement 

 increases, and it reaches its height when only two are left. These 

 two hop about, each on one foot; the one becoming exhausted first 

 joins his fellows, now grouped on one side of the plaza, and then in 

 order to win the contest the remaining one nuist hop to the group 

 before placing his other foot on the ground. At times all the players 

 hop on one foot, each endeavoring to outdo the others and remain 

 longest in the field. The song accompanying the game is a repetition 

 of words which the Zunis themselves appear not to understand, but 

 which they believe to have come from the Ko'yemshi gods. The 

 words are: Ya'chuni sa'wanni, ya'chuni sa'wanni,ya'anni ku'ya,ya'anni 

 ku'ya, shi'ki, shi'ki, shi'ki, shi'ki, a'mashu'. 



^Klasli'tuwiwi. Two files of men hold each other around the waist, 

 the leaders of the two files clasping hands, and in this position they 

 jump about the plaza. At times the men separate and form into oppos- 

 ing lines, and, clasping hands, jump back and forth. The songs sung 

 by the leaders tell stories of youths of old— how their fathers fell in 

 love with their mothers. One begins by telling of how he came from 

 his mother, and when he was old enough his grandfather made him a 

 bow and some arrow reeds, and attaching fine arrow points he went off 

 to hunt game. The game came close to the cornfield and he killed 

 many deer. He was hungry and wished to cook some of the meat, 

 but his success in the hunt had brought such heavy rains that he was 

 compelled to fast until his return home. The\story of another youth 

 is sung by the other leader. He gives his experience previous to his 

 birth, how finally he is able to peep out and see a little light, and dis- 

 covers that there is a road by which he may come out into the world; 

 he decides then that he will no longer remain in his mother's womb. 

 His parents and grandparents rejoice over his birth, and as soon as he 

 is old enough his grandfather supplies him with a bow and arrows, 

 and he goes oft' on a hunt, and finding many deer near the cornfield he 

 kills them, and the rain comes in torrents and waters the earth. The 

 chorus, which is sung constantly throughout the game, compares the 

 rupture of the membranes to violent rains Avhich cause the springs to 

 flow out through the holes in the rocks. The words of the chorus are 

 as follows: '"Kiash'tuwiwi, 'kiash'tuwiwi kal'iyan, kwa'chi, kal'iyfin 

 kwa'chi kwa'chi, kwa'chi chi chi chi chi." 



Ta'shoUwe {wood reeds). The implements of this game are three 

 staves, colored red or black on one side and white or uncolored on the 



