482 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



with the other corn. On the return from plume planting the novice's 

 liead is bathed in yucca suds by the wife or female relative of the fra- 

 ternit}' father, and a feast is enjoyed at the fraternity father's house. 



FEBRUARY CEREMONIAL OF THE 'hLE'wEKWE 



The fTanuary ceremonial is repeated in February with l)ut slight 

 variation. If no members are to be received, the initiation ceremo- 

 nies are omitted and the decorations are left oti" the west wall of the 

 ceremonial chamber. Instead of the black breechcloth seen in Janu- 

 ary, a white embroidered kilt held on by a white embroidered sash 

 and a woman's red belt is worn, with a fox skin pendent at the back. 

 The fraternity dance once in the plaza after the early ceremony with 

 the et'towe and return to the ceremonial chamber for their morning 

 meal. At noon the two a'mosi of the circle dance visit the plaza by the 

 western street. The leader carries a small purple wicker basket of 

 meal, such as was used in the ffanuary ceremonial; the other carries 

 the tehl'nawe. The bearer of the tehl'nawe takes his position south- 

 east of the boxes, and the leader places the basket in his right hand, 

 and then removes the notched sticks and bones from the boxes, laying 

 them upon the ground, reverses the position of the boxes, placing the 

 larger one south of the other, and, taking the small basket of meal 

 deposits it under the larger box, and leaves the plaza by the route 

 he entered. In a few moments three musicians arrive and sit by 

 the boxes, and the 'Hlem'mosona, carrying the original sword and 

 one with a feathered handle, appears through the eastern covered 

 way and repeats the swallowing of the swords in the manner pre- 

 viously described. After making the circuit he stops again at the 

 north end and swallows first the sword w ith feathered handle and after- 

 ward the ancient sword. The swallowing of the swords is repeated at 

 the six points, but he makes the circuit each time before swallowing 

 them. After the sword-swallowing is repeated at the six regions the 

 *Hlem'mosona stands before the boxes and, facing them, waves the 

 swords over the boxes to the six regions and prays. At the close of 

 the prayer the swords are carried in a circle over the boxes, brought 

 to the lips, and all that is good in them is inhaled. The musiciiins 

 pray aloud at the same time. The retired 'Hlem'mosona stands at 

 the western entrance and observes the ceremony with the deepest 

 interest. As soon as the *IIlem'mosona leaves the plaza the circle 

 dance begins. 



Before 2 o'clock the 'Ille'wekwe are assembled in the plaza to 

 dance. The women carry two eagle-wing feathers in the right 

 hand, the sword in the left, except in the case of the most expert 

 female sword-swallower, who has a sword in each hand. The 'Hle'- 

 wekwe dance three times in the plaza, and during the third dance 

 the leader, who is midway the dancers, takes from his three frater- 



