58G THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



The villag-e is encircled four times from right to left, coil fashion/' 

 until they rind themselves within the te'wita 'hlan'na (large plaza), 

 where they are joined by women and children, and all form into four 

 concentric circles. 



The scalp-kickers lift from the ground with the left hand the twigs 

 to which the scalps are attached and wave them before handing them 

 to the pa'mosona, who stands facing west. As soon as the pa'mosona 

 receives the twigs, the elder brother Bow priest approaches, and the 

 pa'mosona picks off a bit of scalp and attaches it to the arrow of the 

 elder brother Bow priest, who afterward passes around the inner circle 

 four times from left to right. The first time around he runs his 

 arrow over the ankles of the men and women as he passes; the second 

 time, he draws it above their knees; the third time, it is drawn by the 

 waist; the fourth time, over the head, that their hearts may be pure 

 and know no fear. Each time as he reaches the starting- point all 

 present expectorate upon the cedar bark and carry it around the head 

 four times from left to right for physical purification, the elder brother 

 Bow priest waving his arrow held in the right hand at the same time. 

 After the fourth movement all males give the war whoop and the elder 

 brother Bow priest shoots the arrow containing the bit of scalp to the 

 north, the home of the hated Navaho. At this hour the plaza and 

 Indians are bathed in moonlight, and the scene, though barbaric, is 

 most picturesque. 



After the shooting of the arrow, symbolic of the destruction of the 

 enem}', the pa'mosona and his aid attach the bits of scalp to a pole 

 about 20 feet long, which has rested against the crumbling wall of the 

 old Catholic Church; it is then planted in an excavation previously 

 made for it in the center of the plaza by the pa'mosona, his vice, the 

 victor, and the elder brother (see plate cxxxi). This pole must not 

 be touched after it is hoisted. The victor and the elder brother, who 

 must not be touched by another after the hoisting of the pole, 

 alternate in keeping guard over it until the crowd disperses for 

 refreshment. 



The first body of A'shiwanni and others return to their homes. The 

 members of the Bow priesthood, with the victor and scalp-kickers, 

 after again passing four times around the village coil fashion, 

 adjourn to their ceremonial chamber, where a feast is served. Later 

 the populace gather around the scalp pole and dance throughout 

 the night. The scalp dance is repeated twelve nights, and is under 

 the very shadow of the old church erected by the Spanish invaders 

 two hundred years ago with the hope of bringing these people to the 

 Christian faith. None are too aged and few too young to participate 



o The coil, often conventionalized into the square by the Zunis, the significance of which they care- 

 fully oonceal, is their seal, and "wherever found it surely indicates that the A'shiwi have passed that 

 way and were at one time the owners of the land." 



