STEVENSON]. '^hle'wekwe fratermity 447 



to select a man from his own clan, the Pi'chikwe (Dogwood). This 

 man carried a sacred meal basket of the A'shiwanni, supposed to have 

 heen broujjht from the undermost world, and he was called the Mu'- 

 chailihil'nona. The Kia'kwemosi also chose two maidens and a youth, 

 virgins, whom he called the Mu'wai3'e,'* to dance on the occasion, and 

 the people of a ki'wi^sine to accompany these dancers and sing for 

 them. 



The Beast Gods who accompanied the *Hle'wekwe from Shi'pa])o- 

 lima continued with them to I'tiwanna. The fraternitA' were met l)y 

 the first body of A'shiwanni (rain priests), who had been apprised of 

 their coming, and were conducted to Si'aa' te'wita (sacred dance plaza), 

 the fraternity grouping themselves on the west side. Of the lieast war- 

 riors, two sat on the west side toward the north and played on note! ed 

 sticks with deer leg bones, the sticks resting on inverted baskets, each 

 basket being placed upon a cross of meal on the ground, while the other 

 beast warrioi-s sat in the center of the plaza, looking upward to the 

 heavens. After the elaborate ceremonial in Si'aa' te'wita, the et'towe 

 were placed in baskets partly tilled with meal and the baskets were set in 

 line on the floor of the O'he'wa ki'wi'sine.'' Then the shi'wanni of the 

 mu'ettone that belonged to the •^Ko'Moktakwc clan, and the singing 

 man, or leader, of the et'towe-bearers that were chosen to accompany 

 those of the 'Hie'wekwe in the ceremonial, prayed over the et'towe, 

 that they might bring snows and cold rains. After these prayers the 

 director of the ^Hle'wekwe announced that for one night the et'towe 

 would countenance any amount of licentiousness,'' the payment from 

 each man being a string of beads large enough to encircle his thuml). 

 This should be given to the woman of his choice, who in turn should 

 deposit it with the et'towe. 



The ^Hle'wekwe has but two orders, the Sword and the Spruce (Pseu- 

 dotsuga douglassii). The fraternity holds two regular meetings 

 annually, one in January and the other in February.'' 



Should the ^Hle'wekwe fraternity dance or^ make te'likinawe in 

 summer, the corn would freeze, as their songs and dances are for 

 cold rains and snows. The medicines of the ^Hle'wekwe are espe- 

 cially good for sore throat. When a person is sick the father or 

 mother of the patient or, should the parents not be living, the brother 

 or a near relative, carries a quantity of prayer meal wrapped in a 



a Mu'waiye has reference to the bending of the knees or body. 



hSec Ki'wi'siwe and their functions. 



'•There are no rites among the Zunis or any other Indian tribe which the writer has studied that 

 involve any conditions of unchastity, and it is only during the closing ceremonies of the 'Hle'wekwe 

 fraternity, the night dances of the harvest festival, the frolics of Ko'yemshi, and one or two borrowed 

 dances that any suggestion of improper conduct is made by men associated with the ceremonies. 

 Immoral women in Zufii are regarded with the same aversion as they are in civilization; at least such 

 was the ease until these people became demoralized by the environment of civilization. 



''At the time the writer last observed the indoor ceremonial the Traternity had two directors. 

 One having retired on account of age, another took his place as the active director, yet the aged 

 man presided ex officio at the ceremonials and performed some duties. 



