STEVENSON] ARTS AND INDUSTRIES 355 



paiiied by the elder and youiioer brother Bow prie.sts and personators 

 of the Ko'3 em.shi. Ev^ery man who is to visit the lake prepares plume 

 offerings to Ma'lokat*si, the spiritual name for mawe (salt), and carry- 

 ing them to the rain priest who is to visit the lake presents the otiering 

 with the words: " I wish to go to my Salt Mother. I wish to ask her 

 for a part of herself." The rain priest receives the offerings with 

 expressions of thanks. The salt-gatherers, including the three priests, 

 prepare plume offerings to the Salt Mother, the Sun Father, the 

 Moon Mother, and the Corn Mother. The elder and younger brother 

 Bow priests also make offerings to each of the Gods of War. The 

 personators of the Ko'ycmshi" make others to the Council of the Gods. 



At sunrise of the morning on which the journey is to l)egin the 

 heads of those who are to make the pilgrimage are washed in yucca 

 suds and their entire bodies are bathed. The women of the family 

 see to it that the men are provided with a sufficient (puintity of jerked 

 meat and wafer bread — in fact the larders are emptied of their choice 

 things for the occasion. All Zufii is in the streets and on the house 

 tops to witness the departure of the salt- gatherers, each one offering 

 a prayer for their success and safe return. The rain priest who makes 

 the journey carries the plume offerings given him by the men upon 

 their announcement that the}^ wished to visit the Salt Mothei*. 

 Nai'uchi, elder brother Bow priest, carries in his right hand a rhom- 

 bus, which consists of two slats about 6 inches long, oval at one end, 

 each attached to end of a cord, and in his left hand offerings con- 

 sisting of plumes and a diminutive shield and bow and arrows for the 

 elder God of War. Me'she, younger brother Bow priest, carries a 

 rhombus and similar offerings to the younger God of War. The three 

 proceed on foot and are followed by the A'wan ta'chu (Great Father) 

 Ko'ycmshi, who sprinkles meal as he proceeds. The rhonilti ai-e 

 whirled for the rain-makers to gather over Zufii. The rest of the 

 party, mounted on burros, follow a short distance behind and manage 

 the extra burros that are to bring back the salt. The salt lake, accord- 

 ing to Mr Darton, is 42 miles south by east from Zuni,'' and is reached 

 before sunset on the second day. Several ranges of mountains arc 

 crossed, but the trail is good, running largely through long stretclu>s 

 of timbered country, the one drawback being the al)sence of water. 

 There are several shrines between Zufii and the lake, at which plume 

 offerings to the Sun Father and ^loon ]\Iother are deposited. 



When Mr Stevenson and his party visited the salt lake, the Kla'- 

 kwemosi appointed a prominent man of the tribe as guide. The first 

 night a dry camp was made, where not only the animals but th(> men 

 suffered for lack of water. As Mr Stevenson l(>arned on the following 

 morning that he was within 4 miles of fine springs, his chagrin was 

 great. When he called the Indian to task for not having led him to 



aSee p. 33. 



6 Mr Darton evidently refers to the Indian trail, as the distaiu-e hy the road is nmeh farllier. 



