446 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



I'tiwanna, stopping at Top'apkwinna (black rocks). Here their origi- 

 nal dii-ector disappeared in the spring, which has since been a most 

 sacred spot to the 'Hle'wekwe, who assert that underground roads lead 

 from it to Ko'thluwala'wa and A'witen te'luda (fourth or undermost 

 world). Again the two officers visited their people at I'tiwanna and 

 told the A'sJiiwanni (rain priests) that they wished to come to the Mid- 

 dle of the world. The Kia'kwemosi said: '• You shall make te'likinawe 

 (prayer plumes) for rain." They answered: ''"No; you have found the 

 Middle; you shall make te'likinawe." Each party insisted that the other 

 should prepare the plume offerings. Finally the A'shiw^anni made 

 te'likinawe and planted them, whereupon clouds gathered from the four 

 quarters, rain fell foi- four days and four nights, and the rivers and lakes 

 were full. Then the two officers of the *Hle'wekwe made te'likinawe 

 and planted them, and soon the smallest white clouds could be seen e ver\'- 

 where; then there came so many that they appeared as one great sheet, 

 and snow fell for four days and nights. The snow was halfway up the 

 ladders of the houses. The A'shiwanni were very angry, and the Kia'- 

 kwemosi visited the village of the 'Hle'wekwe and told them he did 

 not wish them to be near. "'Should you come and bring 3'our et'towe 

 and songs for snows, we should have no corn."'' The director of the 

 'Hle'wekwe replied: ''If you have only warm rains your corn will 

 fall over and die after it has come a little above the earth. The earth 

 should be cooled part of the time with the siiows; then the sun's rays 

 will melt the snows and sink them into the earth, and when the warm 

 rains come the corn will be strong." "It is well," said the Kia'kwe- 

 mosi. Then the Shi'wanni of the West made a te'likinane and gave 

 it to the director of the *Hle'wekwe, who also made one and planted 

 both at the spring, into which he afterward disappeared, and much 

 rain fell. It rained for four days and four nights, so that all the 

 rain roads (stream beds) were filled with water, and the people were 

 happy and contented, being assured of the value of the et'towe con- 

 taining the seeds for snow\ The Kia'kwemosi and other A'shiwanni 

 desired that the return of the ^Hle'wekwe should meet with such a 

 reception as became their exceeding greatness. Wishing that there 

 should be more than two et'towe for snows, the Kia'kwemosi chose 

 one of those brought to I'tiwanna b}^ the Kia'nakwe people of the Corn 

 clan,'' one belonging to the Badger clan, and one from the Ai'vaho'kwe 

 (a certain plant) clan. He designated these et'towe as mu'et'towe. 

 He also chose maidens as bearers of the et'towe and *hla'we (bunches 

 of slender white stalks with beautiful silvery leaves resembling 

 feathers, brought by the Corn maidens from the undermost world).'' 

 Reflecting on whom he should choose as leader of these, he decided 



a Though the above legend is associated in the minds of the Zimis with the site of the present 

 pueblo, such a legend must have had its origin with a people unaccustomed to snow. 

 6 See p. 44. 

 « See Discovery of the Corn maidens. 



