STEVENSON] ma'''ke ^san'nakwe 551 



the newcomer advtiuces to the altuv unci sprinkles nieul. Each nieni- 

 ber of Mystery medicine hands his or her mi'li^' to an officer (.f the 

 fraternity, who places it by the altar. 



Plate cxxvii shows altar fully embellished. The tablets forming 

 the altar are carved and painted in cloud symbols. Faces of the Sun 

 Father and Moon Mother cap the rear slats. A'chiyalii'topa (being 

 with tail and wings of knives) stands upon the • topmost clouds. 

 Ku'pishtaya, the lightning-makers, are represented on the middle 

 slats with the dragon tiy, an important rain syml)oK below. The 

 morning and evening stars cap the front slats upon which the cougar 

 of the North (vellow) and of the West (blue-green) are painted. A 

 carved rattlesnake is before the left front slat. This fraternity having 

 a large membership in Mystery medicine, there are a number of 

 mi'wachi (plural for mi'li), to be seen, composed of brilliant plumes, 

 two of which stand on the meal line. The following enumeration 

 shows the position of the principal objects: 1. ear of corn; 2, giant 

 yucca; 3, dry painting— an eagle is figured on the bed of the painting 

 with pieces of banded gypsum, the head is designed in black, mounds 

 of colored grains of corn dot the disk (further description on page 

 560); 4, medicine bowls; 5, prayer-meal baskets; 6, bowls for ground 

 medicine; 7, food ofierings; 8, arrow points; 9, three crystals: 1<>. 

 liasket of plume offerings; 11, pouch of warrior of fraternity; 12. 

 beards-foot skin; 13, animal fetish, 11. cut-stone fetish. Flutes of the 

 order of Pa'yatamu of the Little Fire fraternity hang on the wall 

 above the altar.'' 



One is impressed with the quiet which prevails, for the whispermg 

 of the women can not ))e heard at the other end of the room, while 

 the men talk almost as low, only one speaking at a time, the others 

 remaining most attentive listeners. They tell of their feats in war: 

 of the killing of some of the hated Navahos; how their parents were 

 lirutally murdered by the enemy, or how they surprised the enemy 

 and gained advantage over him. While reciting the most thrilling 

 adventures they do not fail to indulge in the keenest ridicule of the 

 enemy, the listeners at such points joining in a low but hearty laugh. 

 While the orator speaks he scarcely raises his voice as high as the 

 moderate tones of civilized man, and at times lowers it to a whisper. 

 The delicate modulations of his voice are remarkable, and his gesticu- 

 lations the poetry of motion. Smoking of cigarettes made of com- 

 mercial tobacco is continuous at this time. The native tobacco is used 

 onlv for ceremonial smoking. Pipes are not used by the Zunis. 



After 9 o'clock the room becomes crowded. The choir groups on 

 the south side toward the west end of the room, some sitting on the 

 ledge, while others roll their blankets into wads for seats. There are 



a See p. 416. 



t>The dry painting described Is noi made until tlu' fonrili afternoon. 



