480 THE ZUNI INDIANS [kth. ann. 23 



Ne'wekwe visited Lu'kiana %iai'a (Ashes spring), where Kok'ko- 

 *hlan'iia" appeared to them. The god inquired of the mo'sona 

 (director): ''What medicine have you?" Upon being tokl, he said: 

 "Your medicine is good, but not good alone. Should 3'^ou give it 

 alone, it would destroy the intestines, for it is very hot. I will give 

 you medicine which must be taken to allay the burning qualities of 

 the other." Kok'ko *thlan'na instructed the Ne'wekwe to use human 

 excrement in conjunction with their medicine. 



Since that time the Kok'ko 'hlan'na is personated at the initiatory 

 ceremonials of the Ne'wekwe. He administers the excrement not only 

 to the initiates but to others of the fraternity. While the Ne'wekwe 

 are considered great theurgists, one of the organization is seldom called 

 upon except in extreme cases, from the fact that the invalid, if 

 cured, is expected to join the fraternity and one naturally hates to 

 indulge in its filthy practices; but after joining, the new fellow seems 

 as eager as the others to excel in their disgusting acts. 



The excrement is not given to invalids, but is administered on the 

 occasion of an initiation, when every member of the fraternity nuist 

 receive it, so that their bodies may be kept in condition for the other 

 medicine. Kok'ko 'hlan'na talked much to Bi"'si'si, who told him of 

 the mi'wachi (see plate ci), of the te'likinawe, and of the bauble of 

 his fraternit}-; and Kok'ko ^hlan'na said: "That is well; that is well. 

 Come and live with me and you shall be musician and jester to the Sun 

 Father."" Before Bi''*si^si disappeared in the waters of the spring he 

 told his fraternit}' that whenever they needed him they should notify 

 him v^ith te'likinawe and he would <;ome to them. Since that time 

 Bi"'si^si has borne the name of Pa'yatamu. The ground for a consid- 

 erable distance about this spring is marshy and so covered with tall, 

 rank grass that it was with difficulty the writer followed Nai'uchi^ to 

 the place. Very little water was found in the spring, and it was 

 dark and disgusting to taste. The spring is walled on three sides, the 

 walls, about 2 feet high, being made of the gray soil (from which 

 the spring takes its name) and stones. Slender poles placed across 

 the spring, with brush and soil, make the roof. The soil about this 

 spring is used by the Ne'wekwe to decorate their persons and skull 

 caps for their ceremonials. 



To add to the amusement of the spectators, members of the 

 Ne'wekwe frequently appear in the plaza with the Ko'3'emshi between 

 the dances of the gods, and whenever this occurs the}' play the fool 

 generally; but it is when the Ne'wekwe appear in large numbers that 

 their conduct is shocking. 



The writer was first present at a meeting of the Ne'wekwe in 1884. 



aThe Kok'ko 'hlan'na of the Ne'wekwe is quite different from the patron god of the same name of 

 the Great Fire fraternity. 

 ^ Elder brotlier Bow priest, since deceased. 



