5,34 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



Ku'shiloa (red earth), a short distance east of the village, to plant 

 prayer plumes and sprinkle meal. 



When the writer returns to the ceremonial chamber at half past 

 7 in the evening- she finds a number of members already gathered 

 about the south ledge chatting by the light of a low fire. As the 

 women come in they take seats on the north ledge. After about 

 twenty men have arrived, the deputy a'kwamosi and another oflicer 

 leave the chamber with corn husks containing offerings, which the}^ 

 take from behind the altar, and a warrior at once removes the food 

 which was deposited near the altar before the evening repast and 

 carries it out to offer it in the river to the gods. The two return 

 in an hour with the empty husks, which they deposit in their former 

 place by the altar. A youth now removes a bunch of gourd rattles 

 from the wall and distributes them to the members of the choir. The 

 a'kwamosi and a warrior sit on the north ledge, near the altar, and 

 the novices also sit on this ledge. The deputy a'kwamosi and a 

 second warrior sit on the south ledge apart from the choir. Three 

 women join the choir, which now begins the song to the accompani- 

 ment of the rattle and pottery drum. At the sound of the music a 

 young man clad only in a breechcloth, with his hair done up in the 

 usual way and carrying a rattle in his right hand, who is to personate 

 one of the Sai'apa gods, leaves his seat at the east end of the room and 

 goes to the center of the floor. One foot, which has been severely 

 injured, is bandaged, and he walks with a limp, which, however, he 

 soon forgets in his interest in the dance. Poised on one foot, he 

 stamps several times with the other; then drawing up the foot as high 

 as possible, with a sudden spring he spins around like a top, usuall}^ 

 revolving three times, but on several occasions he turns five times 

 when balancing on the left foot. Though he endeavors to do the 

 same when poised on his right foot, he fails to turn more than three 

 times. His figure is most symmetrical and his motions graceful. 

 Now and then he stands before the altar and inhales the sacred breath 

 of the fetishes. For fifty-eight minutes he dances without the slight- 

 est evidence of fatigue. At the close of this dance the women gather 

 before the altar to sprinkle meal and inhale the sacred breath, and 

 then return to their seats. The men also sprinkle the altar and pra}^ 

 and then the fraternity is adjourned for the remainder of the night. 



On the second day some of the masks and other paraphernalia are 

 completed. Many objects are then added to the altar. Three masks 

 are deposited before it, the others are placed on the ledge behind 

 the altar and covered with a mi'ha (white embroidered blanket). 



Second night. By 8 o'clock most of the company have assembled. 

 The director, his deputy, and a warrior sit on the north ledge near 

 the altar. Other officers sit on the south side of the altar. The four 

 novices sit on the north ledge near the three officers. Five women 



