466 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. axn. 23 



features of the second ceremony over the et'towe are identical with 

 those of the first. 



As soon as the et'towe-bearers leave the plaza the *Hle'wekwe 

 appear. Their bodies are nude, and daubs of yellow paint about 8 

 inches long- and 3 inches wide appear over each scapula and breast. 

 The forearms, hands, feet, and the legs halfway up to the calf are 

 also yellow. They wear black native wool kilts embroidered in blue, 

 and yucca wreaths adorn their heads, the hair hanging- and tied at the 

 back with a red garter. The *Hlem'mosona wears a white cotton shirt 

 with white embroidered kilt, held on by an embroidered sash and a red 

 belt. All those belonging to the order of Mystery medicine of other 

 fraternities wear the reddish eagle plume tied to the forelock; the 

 others wear only the white plume. The *Hlem'mosona has a very large 

 white fluffy eagle plume and a single feather of the 'hlai'aluko (Sialia 

 arctica) tied to his forelock. All males wear the bow wristlet, and 

 such members of the *Hle'wekwe as belong to the A'pi'*lashiwanni 

 (Bow priests) wear the war pouch. 



The drummer of the *Hle'wekwe, who is a warrior to the fraternity, 

 precedes the female leader of the dancers a short distance, beating on 

 the wooden drum of the fraternity, and takes his position on the east 

 side of the plaza. The leader, who has requested this position from the 

 *Hlem'mosona, wears ordinary dress, with a white blanket bordered 

 in red and blue falling over her shoulders, and carries the mi'li of the 

 fraternity and a basket of meal in her left hand, using the right hand 

 to sprinkle the meal, which she throws out before her as she advances. 

 The *^Hlem'mosona follows her, the deputy comes after him, the 

 . retired *Hlem'mosona is next, and the aged warrior of the fraternity 

 follows. The plaza is entered from the western street, and the 

 dancers, passing- south of the boxes, continue around in single file by 

 the east, north, and west, making the complete circle before swallow- 

 ing the sword. Rattles are carried in the right hand and the swords 

 with the feathered handles held upward in the left. The musicians 

 play on the notched sticks, while the members of the fraternity sing. 

 They proceed with measured step, raising first one foot, then the 

 other, squarel}' and quite high from the ground. The women do not 

 raise their feet so high as the men. The leader of the song and dance 

 has his place, as usual, midway in the line of dancers. The *Hlem'- 

 mosona steps from the line just as he passes south of the boxes and, 

 dancing before them, he turns and faces east and runs the sword once 

 down his throat. In most instances the rattle is transferred to the 

 left hand and the sword taken in the right before it is put down the 

 throat, but occasionally a dancer manipulates the sword with the left 

 hand. In no case does the dance cease during the swallowing of the 

 sword. Soon after withdrawing the sword he joins the circle, and 

 the next man steps before the boxes and repeats the sword swallowing. 



