WHITE] CEREMONIES AXD CEREMONIALISM 85 



Everyone makes prayer sticks to be deposited on the morning of 

 the solstice. Each person makes four sticks which are tied together 

 and wrapped in a corn husk. On the morning of the solstice two men 

 and two women take the sticks for all the people to the east edge of the 

 cliff and offer them to the sun and to the k'oBictaiya. 



The cacique erects (or causes to be set up) his altar in Mauharots. 

 P''or the most part, I undei'stand, the ceremony at the summer solstice 

 is confined to the head estufa, Mauharots ; there is seldom any dancing. 

 The kiva ceremony consists of prayers and songs. It is said, however, 

 that masked dancers sometimes appear at the solstice and dance in 

 the plaza. The k'acale also come out." 



The Winter Solstice (KoAMictJKU or Koamicakurtsa, 

 "Southeast Corner") 



The cacique watches the sun, as for the summer solstice. He sets 

 the date for the solstice eight daj^s in advance; everyone in the village 

 is notified. A person from each household goes out into the moun- 

 tains to get herbs for making brew. This brew is drunk every morning 

 for the first four mornings of the 8-day prelude. The brew causes one 

 to vomit; it cleanses and purifies one. On the fifth morning after 

 the announcement prayer sticks are made by everyone. From this 

 time untU the ceremony is over no one may eat salt or meat, and there 

 must be no sexual intercourse. On this morning also the cacique and 

 the ^intelope men take their altar to Mauharots, where it is set up. 

 On that night groups from the five kivas go, singly, to Mauharots and 

 dance; the kuuts' hanotc (Antelope men) sing. 



On the fourth day before the solstice the medicine societies go into 

 their chambers, where they lay out their paraphernalia.'^ Sometimes 

 groups from the kivas come here to dance too. 



On the following daj' (the third before the solstice) the men take 

 their prayer sticks out to their fields and bury them; the women carry 

 theirs to the east edge of the mesa and throw them down. On this 

 day the head men of the five kivas get out the masks of the k'osictaiya; 

 they are painted and refeathered for the ceremony. Other prepara- 

 tions are made; new moccasins are made; seeds of all kinds, shrubs, 

 cactus, small trees, etc., are collected for use in the solstice ceremony. 

 Rabbits are caught alive and kept. 



'J Data for the summer solstice were more sketchy and unsatisfactory than for the winter solstice; I am 

 not sure why. Perhaps the summer ceremony is less strictly determined in ritual. Certainly it is not so 

 well attended: at this season most of the people are busy in their fields in the Acoraita Valley, whereas 

 nearly everj'one is present at the winter ceremony at old Acoma. I believe that the functions of the cacique 

 and the medicine men are faithfully performed at the summer solstice, but that the "extra ceremonial" 

 features are left to the convenience and wishes of the men at large. 



" The Fire Society uses its own chamber; the Flint Society rents a house for the c 



