542 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



entliusiastic participants being a girl less than 6 years of age. Cedar 

 brands succeed the husks and a grand melee ensues. A warrior 

 runs up the ladder and descending with an armful of husks ignites 

 them and runs about among the people with them blazing in his arms. 

 The excitement grows greater and greater as the male and female 

 members run around pell-mell, showering one another with sparks. 

 Clubs are thrown upward, and much dodging is necessary to avoid 

 being struck. Another and another join in the excitement until only 

 the drummer and two companions remain in the choir; but the cries 

 and yells of the dancers drown all other sounds. The women do not 

 seem to mind in the least the sparks showering over their bare necks 

 and arms. They are too crazed with excitement to be conscious of 

 physical pain. The aged woman, whose usefulness as a member of 

 the fraternity has long since passed away, is aroused by the tire dis- 

 play and her old wrinkled face brightens with a lively interest as she 

 touches the writer, when she is near, and exclaims: " Kokshi! kokshi!" 

 (good! good!) It must have been many a day since this creature 

 played an active part in these weird scenes, which a pen picture can 

 scarcely describe, especially the tighting with the great tirebrands. 



The Shumai'koli of the Nadir leaves the floor soon after the begin- 

 ning of the tire display, but the Sai'apa remain on the floor to the last. 

 Just previous to the close of this barbaric scene the tree which was 

 removed from the lower entrance and carried up the ladder and then 

 down into the chamber earl}' in the evening is taken from the room 

 through the lower door and stood outside, the door being left open. 

 After the fire fight, prayers are offered before the altar, and the tree, 

 which has a la'showanne composed of a banded turke}^ feather, a fluffy 

 white eagle plume, and feathers of the Si'liliko (Falco sparverius 

 deserticolus, desert sparrow), hawk, and *hlai'aluko (Sialia arctica, 

 mountain bluebird), attached to the topmost branch, is planted in the 

 center of Si'aa' te'wita, and the fraternity dance around it for two 

 hours and then return to the ceremonial chamber to enjoy a feast. 

 Later in the morning the fraternity reappear in the plaza, and after 

 dancing around the tree all return to the chamber to remain, except 

 the charm- bearers and those who personate the gods. 



As is the custom with other fraternities, yoviths and maidens are 

 appointed by this fraternit}' to procure dancers from the town at 

 large, the youths choosing the women and the girls the men. The 

 youths, who are designated as a'mosi (directors), wear black shirts of 

 native weave, trimmed in bright red and green ribbons, or velveteen 

 shirts, when this material can be secured, velveteen knee breeches, 

 deerskin moccasins and leggings colored a reddish brown, and red 

 garters. The breeches and leggings have lines of silver buttons on 

 the outer sides. Lines of micaceous hematite under the eves denote 



