356 thp: zuni Indians [eth. ann.'23 



the water, the old man exclaimed: "These springs are at the house 

 of the Kok'ko ko'hail (white, gods"), and a Zuni would not dare to 

 camp near by." Thus the guide had purposel}^ led the party from the 

 main trail in order that the sacred spot should not be desecrated. 



The party had not proceeded far on the following morning when 

 the old Indian came close to the writer, and, pointing to an extensive 

 ruin, whispered: "There is the house of the Kia'nakwe; I will take 

 you to see it." The writer suggested that they await the others, who 

 were but a short distance behind. This was a mistake. It is never well 

 to give an Indian too much time to think. The gods communicated 

 with him and warned him that if he should visit the house without 

 the permission of the director of the personators of the deceased 

 Kia'nakwe, Zuni would be in imminent danger of destruction. There- 

 fore the party found it necessar}^ to visit these ruins without the pres- 

 ence of the guide, who remained behind and grieved much because 

 the horses were permitted to tread upon the sacred soil. The writer, 

 however, hoping to induce the Indian to accompany her to the ruin, 

 remained behind and persuaded him to do so. It was necessary for 

 him to dismount and leave his animal at a respectful distance from 

 the sacred spot, and while he pointed out the various sacred springs, 

 man}^ of which were so covered that one would not dream of the 

 presence of the living water, the cori'al in which Ku'3'apali'sa, a female 

 warrior bearing the name of *Cha'kwena (see page 35), and the mother 

 of all game, kept game, and other points of interest to the writer, he 

 uttered lamentations that he nuist die within four da3's for otiending 

 the gods b}' visiting the forbidden spot. 



After camping on the second evening, it was with difficulty that the 

 Indian was prevented from continuing his journey to the lake. The 

 old guide said: "You are Americans and can follow in the morning, 

 l)ut I am a Zuni, my moth(U' (referring to the Salt Mother at the lake) 

 calls me, and I nuist go and sleep contentedl v by her. Man}^ years have 

 passed since I have seen her,'^ and I can not rest until 1 have reached 

 my mother." 



Before the stars had ceased their twinkling in the early morning, the 

 writer was awakened by the old guide addressing her: "Mother, 1 do 

 not care to eat, I nuist go, and you can follow later." He was again 

 with difficulty restrained. Before sunrise the guide and the writer 

 started from camp ahead of the party. For a time he chatted gaily, 

 telling many stories of interest, until he had the first peep of the home 

 of the Gods of War, which is a volcanic peak rising from the lake (see 

 plate Lxxxviii), when he immediately removed from his head the ker- 

 chief and, taking out his prayer-meal bag prayed and sprinkled meal 



o So named because these people, who were the Kia'nakwe wore white cotton blankets. The 

 house referred to is an extensive ruin (see Destruction of the Kia'nakwe and songs of thanksgiving). 

 6 No Zuni visits this lake except by permission of those who have authorit)'.' 



