420 



THE ZUNI INDIANS 



[ETH. ANN. 23 



tion. Six white o'wa (dove) plumes from the tail of the male bird followed next, 

 each one being wrapped on separately. 



The mi'li was now placed for a few minutes beside the low fire, while the theur- 

 gist sat in silence, his lips moving in prayer. Then six mai^ya (Cyanocitta macro- 

 lopha) tail plumes, representing eyes, were added. Three green macaw plumes 

 followed these; next twelve wing feathers from the male duck's shoulder; then six 

 male dove wing plumes; following these fifteen duck feathers from under the wing; 

 after these twenty small red parrot feathers; and then three white fluffy eagle 

 plumes were attached, representing the feather adornment on the head of the Corn 

 Mother. A band of fourteen small turkey feathers, from the top of the neck of the 

 male bird, completed the plumes of themi^li. The plumes were arranged with the 

 greatest lirecision. The cord, still held in the mouth, was wrapped loosely around 

 the feathers to the tip of the long macaw illumes, where it was secured, and the 

 mi^li was stood on the floor while the case for the base, which was made of wheat 

 straw, was moistened and delicately manipulated into shape. It was set aside for a 



Fig. 26 — Theurgist reconstructing the mi'li. 



few moments and then drawn over the mi^ii from the top; hence the extra wrap- 

 ping of the plumes with the cord. The case was carefully fitted to the base, and 

 the outer wrapping of cord, being now removed from the plumes, was used to secure 

 the top edge of the straw. After the cord was wound many times around, it was 

 carefully fastened by tucking it under the wrapping. Bits of shell and beads tied 

 around the top of the straw with a cotton cord completed the mi^li of the order of 

 Mystery medicine. The theurgist i-epeated a long prayer while he held the mi^li; 

 then, after passing it four times over the writer's mouth, that she might draw in the 

 sacred breath from the fetish, he handed it to her, saying, " Eeceive your father." 

 To a male he would say, " Receive your mother." The same procedure was 

 observed in rebuilding the father's mi'li, except that the buckskin cup was not dis- 

 turbed. AVhen the father's fetish was completed the young theurgist, with tears on 

 his cheeks and with a deep sigh, said, "I have pleased my mother, but I have 

 offended mv gods." 



