452 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



the following morning can penetrate and cause bad throats and per- 

 haps death to the uninitiated. The fraternity convenes during the 

 evening, when the swords are deposited in the ceremonial chamber 

 and the choir sing; but they disband at midnight, returning to their 

 homes. The two men who are to act as fraternity fathers to the 

 novices bring in sheep from their herds on the following morning, 

 taking them to their homes to be dressed for the coming feast; if they 

 are not owners of sheep, they must purchase them. The richer the 

 man, the more elaborate the feast. 



The fraternity gather in the ceremonial chamber the night before 

 the ceremony begins. On the following morning the fraternity father 

 carries to the ceremonial cham])er, still wrapped in its corn husk, the 

 plume given him with the package of meal ))y the novice when he 

 expressed his wish to join the *Hle'wekwe, and, sprinkling a little 

 meal on the ledge at the west end of the room, la3^s the husk on 

 the meal. The sword of the 'Hlem'mosona is laid by the side of this 

 package. 



Before the morning is far spent all the members of the fraternity 

 congregate in the ceremonial chaml)er. The medicine plant with 

 white blossoms, which is an emetic, is boiling in a large pot, that is 

 used for no other purpose, in the fireplace under the supervision of 

 two elderly women of the organization. When the medicine has been 

 boiled sufficientl}' it is removed from the pot and deposited on the 

 ledge at the east end of the chamber. The tea is drunk warm by each 

 member, and copious vomiting is the result. A single large bowl is 

 the receptacle, and wdien all are relieved it is carried by a female mem- 

 ber of the fraternity a short distance from the village, where the con- 

 tents are emptied. This medicine is taken on the first four mornings 

 to enlarge the throat and prepare the stomach for the reception of the 

 sword. 



A medicine made by boiling a reddish root is drunk hot each evening. 

 It is regarded as quite harmless to the uninitiated and is a sovereign 

 remedv for a deranged stomach or headache. 



Each morning, at the first peep of day, the members of the frater- 

 nity ascend to the house top to pray. They appear in groups of twos 

 and threes, each one ottering a short prayer and covering a spot about 

 the size of the foot with meal. As soon as the last group descends, the 

 drum and rattle are heard, the song begins, and the dance soon fol- 

 lows. The sword is continuall}" swallowed during the indoor dances. 

 After one dance they ascend to the roof and sing, and after the song 

 the men go to the river to bathe, if necessarj^ breaking the ice." 



alt is a common thins for members of the 'Hle'vvekwe, after dancing without cessation for an hour 

 or more, vo rush out of the house with the perspiration streaming down their nude bodies, go to the 

 river, and finding a. break in the ice, plunge into the water, afterward standing on tlie ice while 

 they bathe their hands. During their night dances in other houses than their own they pass through 

 the frozen streets barefoot after constant dancing in their ceremonial chamber. 



