358 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



ascend or descend." Only those of the Bow priesthood who have 

 taken four scalps may enter the crater. The warrior who has scalped 

 but one enemy goes only part way up the mountain and deposits his 

 offerings; when he has scalped two, he may go still farther up- the 

 mountain; after the scalping of three, he may ascend to the top and 

 make his offerings; when he has scalped four enemies, he may descend 

 into the crater and deposit his offerings in the sacred lake. At least 

 such was the rule until the cessation of intertribal wars, during which 

 only such men as brought back scalps were entitled to join the Bow 

 priesthood. 



Members of this fraternity who go down to the house of the Gods 

 of War must descend over a certain path which was traveled by these 

 gods when the}^ descended to this crater lake. The elder and younger 

 Bow priests, the living representatives of the Gods of War, when 

 visiting this sacred spot descend by the path referred to and on reach- 

 ing the water's edge separate and make the circuit of the lake, passing- 

 each other on the opposite side. 



A shrine especially set apart for the offerings of the elder and younger 

 brother Bow priests is located on the east side of the lake. It is 3 

 feet from the water's edge and is square, some 18 inches across, and 

 formed of four slabs. Prayer plumes, miniature war clubs, batons, 

 shields, bows and arrows, and various other objects were found at this 

 shrine, while the rocks all about the shore were dotted with other 

 offerings to the Gods of War.* 



Many valuable beads have in the past been deposited along the 

 shores of the lake and in a spring not far from the cone, but the com- 

 ing of the whites has compelled the Zufiis to refrain from making- 

 offerings of commercial value. Some years ago an American found 

 in the spring a rare necklace of antique black stone beads. 



The guide refused with alarm to descend into the crater, saying he 

 could not go as he was not a member of the Bow priesthood, but he 

 was finally persuaded and added to the interest of the visit by his 

 description of the objects found there. Upon reaching the lake of the 

 crater the Indian gave meal to Mr. Stevenson and the writer, request- 

 ing them to breathe a prayer and scatter the meal upon the waters, 

 and he sang a long, low chant. The prayer was addressed tirst to the 

 Sun Father, then to the (iods of War, asking them not to be angry with 

 him for entering their house. Again he prayed to the Salt Mother 

 and ancestral warrior gods of the six regions to intercede for him with 

 the Sun Father and Gods of War that they be not angry with him. 

 His prayers also invoked the good health and prosperity of his people 

 and the people of all the world. 



ain 1902 a substantial path of gradual slope, made by Americans or Mexicans, was found. The 

 Zufus, who deplore the intrusion of strangers, continiie to visit this lake by the old Zuiii path. 



''Many interesting specimens from this region secured on this trip were placed in the National 

 Museum. 



