516 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 28 



leaves with the kia'etchine he made the previous day, and as he passes 

 out of the room the female members stand in line and sprinkle meal 

 on the group of plumes. The two are led for a short distance north of 

 the village b}^ a man carr} ing a meal basket and sprinkling meal. He 

 returns, and the others continue on their journey to collect two small 

 trees, one pine and the other pinon, which are brought and deposited 

 in the manner described in the January ceremonial of the Sword order, 

 except that the la'showanne for each tree is an undertail banded turkey 

 feather instead of the tlutfy eagle plumes. A flint arrow attached to a 

 shaft is placed between the trees when they are planted on the roof b^^ 

 the hatchway, to remain through the ceremonial. The directors hold 

 a ceremony over the trees on the roof similar to the one described in 

 January, and the trees are sprinkled with meal each morning bj^ the 

 members of the order. After the ceremony over the trees, there is no 

 more singing during the night unless some one should cough. During 

 the ceremonies in the fraternitj^ chamber the feet must be kept close 

 together, whether the person be sitting or lying down, and the arms 

 must not be extended outward or upward except when using the sword 

 or sprinkling the meal. Should this rule not be observed the corn 

 would be stunted in its growth. 



The flutist and a warrior to the fraternity sit on their sheepskins in 

 the middle of the floor for awhile, the latter speaking in whispers to 

 his rhombus, the other to his flute. '^' 



After the early meal on the third morning in the ceremonial cham- 

 ber the *Hlem'mosona selects a man as director and live others and 

 sends them for pine trees, which are collected south of the village. 

 Each tree is marked, before it is hewn, with three dots to denote the 

 eyes and the mouth. AH take their turn in cutting the trees, which 

 are brought on the backs of the men, held in place b}' ropes; they 

 arrive about sunset. The trees are slid down the ladder through the 

 hatchway into the ceremonial room, where they are received by six 

 men. As the trees descend the ladder, animal-like yells are given. 

 All the trees remain in the middle of the room wdiile the choir sings 

 and the director pufl^s smoke from a reed cigarette through the boughs. 

 The trees are afterward suspended b\" ropes from the ceiling at the 

 east end of the room, the eyes and mouth sides upward. A feast is 

 now served; but previous to eating, a quantity of the food is taken 

 from all the bowls and placed before the altar by a warrior, and it 

 is afterward divided by him into live heaps before the altar. Six 



"The use of the rhombus and flute at this time is to bring snows and rains quickly. These instru- 

 ments are phiced by the heads of the fiutist and the warrior when they lie down, and should one cough , 

 the flutist plays and the warrior whirls his rhombus, and every one must immediately rise and stand 

 until the music ceases, when all present draw a breath and the director and all sprinkle the altar 

 with meal and ascend the ladder and sprinkle meal on the trees; then there is no more sleep during 

 the night. Should a member be caught nodding, he is awakened by another member with lighted 

 husks or sticks, and they nuist sing and dance until sunrise, when the altar and afterward the trees 

 are again sprinkled with meal. 



