496 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. anx. 23 



a woman to the floor, compelling her to dance. Again the dancers run 

 about healing the sick. Two or more theurgists sometimes grab at 

 the same patient simultaneously. The patient often rubs his hands up 

 the back of the theurgist during the healing. 



The a'kwamosi stands by the altar keeping time with his plumes, 

 held in each hand and moved simultaneously up and down. An aged 

 man, much crippled with rheumatism, who comes late in the evening, 

 receives treatment from many of the theurgists, who seem especially 

 interested in his case. The largest number of women observed on the 

 floor at any one time is seven, and these, with the number of men 

 crowding the floor, form a curious living kaleidoscope. The dance 

 closes shortly before midnight. The a'kwemosi dips his plumes into 

 the medicine water and places the quill ends to the lips of the 8ia 

 guests. First the men and then the women group about the altar, 

 each receiving a draft of medicine water from the a'kwamosi, and 

 sprinkle the altar with meal. Then the women leave for their homes 

 with their wideawake babies on their backs. The men remain in the 

 ceremonial room. 



Third nlgld. The ceremony is somewhat delayed by the making 

 of flash-light pictures, much efl'ort being necessary to succeed, as the 

 fraternit}^ at large make strong objection. The officers of the fra- 

 ternity finally prevent any interference. 



The members of the order are devoid of paint or other decoration, 

 except the yucca wreath and fluffy eagle plume. At half past 10 

 o'clock the room is well filled, the choir having previously grouped in 

 the designated place. The a'kwamosi is seated as usual by the medi- 

 cine bowl at the altar, and the medicine water is prepared. A warrior 

 of the fraternity now comes before the altar and moves his eagle-wing 

 plumes up and down. In a moment or two the director dances before 

 the altar and then proceeds to heal the sick. After sucking his first 

 patient, who is a woman, he throws the supposed extracted material 

 into the fire. His next subject is the a'kwamosi, from whose side he 

 "draws" an object and throws it into the fire. He afterward deposits 

 the material supposed to come from his patients in the bowl presided 

 over by the aged woman. For some time he practices healing alone, 

 when his exquisitel}^ graceful movements can be clearly observed. 

 When the director retires, the warrior moves from his position before 

 the altar, and a second theurgist comes to the floor. Dipping his 

 plumes in the medicine water, he sprinkles the choir and dances wildl}^ 

 before the altar, twisting and bending his body, and proceeds to prac- 

 tice on the patients. In a few moments he is joined b}^ two female 

 theurgists, who perform curious antics before the altar, l^ending first 

 one knee and then the other. Graduallv the number of theurgists on 

 the floor increases, leaving, however, a sufficient bod}- to continue the 

 song. One of the practicing theurgists is a Sia guest invited to take 



