STEVENSON] RABBIT HUNT 443 



spiritual part might Ije conveyed to the gods. After passing their ra))bit sticks 

 through the flames, asking the gods to crown them with success, they remounted 

 their horses. The Ko'yemshi and member of the 'Siin'iaklakwe led them for a dis- 

 tance; then they gave the order to proceed with tlie hunt. The party divided into 

 squads. For a time there was considerable disputing in regard to the<lisposition of Mr 

 Stevenson and the writer, each party claiming the company of the visitors. Finally 

 it was agreed that they should be allowed to choose for themselves, and they accom- 

 panied the party composed of the more important men. They had not proceeded 

 many steps when a little cottontail came skipping along, all unconscious of its fate. 

 There was confusion as all hands rushed after the wee thing, surrounding it, each 

 man intent upon being the captor. With the chivalry of a knight the happy man 

 presented the rabbit to the writer. The Indians are very dexterous in the use of the 

 rabbit stick. Not a single rabbit that appeared escaped the weapon. Mr Stevenson 

 killed the second rabbit, which was the occasion of much rejoicing among the Indians, 

 for they took his success as evidence that his heart was with them and their people. 

 When the rabbit is surprised it starts off in one direction, but finding itself cut off from 

 escape it darts to another point and there meets with a barrier, and so to all points 

 until it becomes utterly bewildered, and it is not remarkable that one of the dozen 

 sticks darted toward it should strike the mark. The Great Father Ko'yemshi 

 remained with the hunters until the killing of the first rabbit, when he dipped his 

 fetish into its blood. This was not repeated by any of the hunters and the writer 

 understands that fetishes are not generally carried on the occasion of a ceremonial 

 rabbit hunt. At sundown the party returned, some to Ojo Caliente and many to 

 Zuiii, laden with rabbits. The back of the writer's saddle was fringed with them. 



When one of these hunts is over, each hunter takes his rabl)its to 

 his home, where some member of the household, male or female, 

 places them abreast on their sides, with their heads to the east and 

 facinjif south. An ear of corn is placed between the fore paws of each 

 rabbit, the upper end of the corn being- even with the mouth (see plate 

 cvi b), and each member of the household sprinkles meal and prays 

 that the beings of the rabbits may return home and send manv more 

 rabbits. The game is afterward flayed. The skin is left on the foi-e 

 paws, the tips of the ears, around the mouth, and around each eye. and 

 a bit of it on the breast just below the neck; it is then cut crosswise in 

 the middle of the paunch and is draw^n; the forelegs are crossed, the 

 hind legs bent upward at the joint, so that the feet meet upon the back; 

 food, usuall}" wafer bread, is placed under the left foreleg, and the 

 rabbits are laid on the coals on their breasts with their heads to the east 

 and remain in this position until the first crackling noise, when they 

 are removed, for then the spiritual essence of the bread has left the 

 body and gone to feed the rabbits. If this is not done, the rabbits will 

 not appear, and hence can not be secured. The one who dresses the 

 rabbits must wash the blood ott' his hands over the tire. For this pur- 

 pose water is taken into the mouth and while the hands are held over 

 the fireplace the water is poured from the mouth over them. This is 

 to in.sure success in the rabbit hunt; if one fail to do this and should 

 the blood be washed from the hands at a distance from the fire, the 

 rabbits will go ofl", and can not be caught. 



