570 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. anx. 23 



from arrow, bullet, or dog- bite, is eligible for membership in the 

 *Ko'.shi'kwe. If a man is struck by a flying bit of cactus during an 

 outdooi- ceremony and is caught as he runs off, he joins the fraternity. 

 A member of the Cactus fraternity can not join the A'pi"lashiwanni 

 (Bow priesthood) until he has taken four scalps. 



A shrine of the Cactus fraternity is in an arched cave in the 

 western wall of To'wa yal'lanne (Corn mountain). Great numbers 

 of te'likinawe (prayer plumes) are deposited here by the fraternit}-; 

 and some distance below this shrine is a shelf containing a large bed 

 of cactus (Opuntia arborescens). This entire bed is the property- 

 of the Cactus fraternity, and it is iie\'er touched except by order of 

 the director of the fraternit3\ A single plant about 2i feet high, 

 which is isolated from the others and very symmetrical, is a most 

 important object to the fraternity. Offerings are deposited at the 

 base of this plant and upon it when cactus is to be collected In' the 

 fraternity. 



When a boy has been restored to health by a member of this frater- 

 nity his father goes to the man who cured him, carrying sacred meal in 

 his right hand, which he places in the left hand of the other. If a man 

 is cured, he goes himself, saying: "I wish to join the *Ko'shi'kwe." 

 The fourth da}- after the request has been made the man appealed to 

 prepares four prayer plumes of feathers of the birds of the six regions 

 and the eagle and turkey plumes as offerings to the deceased members 

 of the fraternity. The same night he visits the house of the novice and 

 presents the prayer plumes, saying: "My child, deposit these to the 

 north, west, south, and east, to the deceased "Ko'shi'kwe."" The fra- 

 ternity convenes the fifth day after the prayer plumes are given to 

 the novice. Continence is observed from the time the plumes are 

 given until the fifth da}' following the closing ceremonies. Should 

 continence be broken, the flesh would become filled with cactus needles 

 and the offender would die. 



The ceremonial of initiation here described occurred in October, 

 1896. The fraternity meet in the morning, and the members proceed 

 to prepare praj^er plumes to be offered to the Gods of War and the 

 Ku'pishtay a (lightning-makers), that they will intercede with the u'wan- 

 nami (rain-makers) to send rains upon Zuni. The mo'sona (director) 

 prepares, in addition to these plumes, four others and a la'showanne 

 with a long string of cotton cord, to which a bit of turquoise is strung. 

 The deputy carries the plumes to the cactus bed at Corn mountain 

 and winds the string attached to the la'showanne about the large 

 cactus plant which stands alone: the string is so delicately woven 

 over the plant that it appears like a web. He plants at the base of 

 the cactus the plumes which he carries, and also deposits food near 

 the plant to the deceased oflScers of the fraternity. He then cuts 



