450 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



years of age. Each person wraps her pinch of meal in a bit of corn 

 husk, tying it with a ribbon of the same, and lays the package away 

 until the following morning, when it is sprinkled at daylight out of 

 doors to the rising sun. All the recipients of the meal are expected 

 to be present and take part at the all-night dance which occurs on 

 the fifth night of the ceremonial. 



Some days prior to the actual ceremon}^ the fraternity gathers in 

 the ceremonial chamber to practice its songs, which, however, never 

 begin until near the approach of midnight, the earl}^ part of the even- 

 ing being consumed in telling te'lapnawe (tales); at least, it was so in 

 the past. Now, these Indians have so many grievances against the 

 United States Government and the white settlers of the country that 

 their present distressed condition is ever the subject of discussion, and 

 no time is found at these gatherings for the old tales in which in 

 former days they found such delight. 



These gatherings for rehearsal bring no change of the family 

 arrangements. Each woman of the household prepares in the same 

 room her children's beds and her own when she chooses, and husbands, 

 wives, and little ones retire at will. The elder ones frequently sit near 

 the group of the fraternity and join in the discussion until the director 

 is notified that the villagers are asleep or are engaged in other meetings, 

 when the first stroke of the drum is the signal for the choir to begin. 



In all Zuni worship, feathers form a conspicuous feature. The 

 *Hle'wekwe make la'showawe (one or more plumes attached to cotton 

 cord) of wing feathers of the *hlai'aluko (Sialia arctica), which are not 

 more than 2 inches in length, and the "^Hlern'mosona carries them 

 to the He'iwa (North) ki'wi'sine on the tenth morning of the winter 

 solstice ceremonies. The Kia'kwemosi chooses two young men and two 

 girls to serve as a'mosi (directors) and a'mosono"kia (directresses) to 

 the Mu'wai3"e," and two 3'Oung men and two girls to act in the same 

 capacity to the six members of the A'pi^lashiwanni (Bow priesthood), 

 who make the tehl'nawe* to be carried in the i'kwinnakia, circle dance, 

 and wiu) lead tlie dance. The la'showawe referred to are given by the 

 pe'kwin (sun priest) to the four amosi, and each one gives a la'sho- 

 wanne of a single plume to his associate directress and each director 



oTlie Mu'waiye are two girls'nnd one youth. Should they not be virgins, the snows for which 

 tliey (lance would not come. 



'' The tolil'nanO (singular for tehrnawo) is a slender staff the length of the extended arms, the ends 

 cut squarely off, and each painted for one of the six regions. Seeds are held in place at the lower end 

 by a wrapping of corn husk extending 7 or 8 inches up the staff, bound on with yucca ribbons. An 

 eagle plume, a buzzard feather, and four feathers from smaller birds are attached in a group midway 

 on the staff, the center .. the staff being supposed to lie directly over the heart, which is indicated by 

 the center of the breast, when measured by the e.xtended arms. A la'showannt^ of a tail leather and 

 a white Huffy eagle feather hang by a cotton cord from the upper group of feathers. A miniature 

 war club, a bow and arrows with a shell strung on the bowstring, and a shield formed of a 

 slender hoop, filled in with a network of cotton, its circumference measured by bending it 

 around the knee, are attached to the staff". The bow and arrows are colored red and the shield 

 and groups of plumes are rubbed with a dry red paint. The la'showannf given to each maker 

 of a tehl'nanC by the nio'sona who selects him is attached to the bow, and five fluffy eagle 

 plumes, also rubbed over witli the pigment, are tied to the sliield. A stick as long as from the 



