468 



THE ZUNI INDIANS 



[ETH. ANN. 23 



and the 'Hleni'inosona stands facing the east and prays to the Sun 

 Father, sprinkling* meal toward the east before returning to the cere- 

 monial chaml)er. After the *Hlem'mosona leaves the plaza the musi- 

 cians pra}' aloud, and waving the deer-leg ])ones over the boxes draw 

 a breath from them. 



Upon the return of the 'Hlem'mosona to the ceremonial chamber a 

 woman of the fraternit}' ascends to the roof and securing the tehl'nawe" 

 carries them to the outside ladder leading to the street and hands them 

 to some one below. Soon afterward the elder brother Bow priest 

 appears from the eastern covered way, leading six members of the 



Fig. 32— «Hlem'mosona swallowing: sword. 



Bow priesthood, each having a tehl'nane, while he himself carries the 

 ancient statf. The musicians who perform for the *Hlem'mosona 

 now leave the plaza and others take their place at the boxes to pla}^ 

 for the circle dancers. The tehl'nane bearers and others form a 

 circle, which must never be entirely closed, and as the}" pass, with 

 slow, even steps from left to right, the tehl'nawe are waved up and 

 down to the rich strains of the song of the choir. There is no sing- 

 ing ))y the dancers. The circle, which is small at first, is gradualh" 

 joined by men, women, j^ouths, and maidens until it is very large. 

 All clasp one anothers hands except those next to a tehl'nane; in such 

 cases the staff is held ))elow the liand of the warrior who carries it. 



a See p. 450, note b. 



