210 ISLETA, NEW MEXICO [eth. axn. 47 



as the round kivas there is a kijkauu in the chamber wliich is reserved 

 for ceremonial as distinct from the chamber for the use of dancers. 



In aU the ceremonial chambers the fire wall or screen is surmounted 

 by the familiar terrace cloud design/* at Isleta called bers^'. In the 

 round kivas the hearth is toward the center of the chamber and there 

 is but one fire screen. Where the corner hearth is used and there 

 are two screens or walls, each is terrace topped, as are also the ladders 

 of the rovmd kivas. The fagades of the undetached moiety Idvas also 

 show the same design (pl. 18, c), which may also be observed on some 

 of the older yard walls. 



Among the ceremonial houses is to be noted that of the town chief 

 (t'aikabedetoai) (house 2) which is distinct from his dwelling 

 (house 1). Another distinctive ceremonial house is that of the 

 White Cora chief Oi^ouse 23). The cliiefs of the other Com groups 

 hold their ceremonial in their dwellings. 



Between the town and Orai'bi stand the Government buddings, 

 schoolhouse, administration buildkigs, and a small 1-room jail 

 (kabeto'). 



The Catholic Church stands on the north side of town and of the 

 plaza. Formerly, as elsewhere, the dead were buried in the church- 

 yard, but now the cemetery is to the southwest, near Orai'bi. The 

 removal caused "big trouble." The churchyard is one of the dance 

 stations. (Just as is the atrio in Mexico.) There is but one plaza, ^' 

 which is very large, and through it rims the high road. The street 

 between the two most southerly rows of houses is used also as a dance 

 station, especially for the Laguna kachiiia dances (pl. 19, b). Through 

 this street lies the race course, which was described consistently with 

 Isletan count, as 500 yards long.^" 



On each of the four sides of town there is an "ash pile." (Pl. 19, c.) 

 To one or another of these ash piles witch bundles are taken and 

 buried. On them offerings to the liigh god, W»ide, and to the dead are 

 made, and there are various taboos " in regard to the ash piles which 

 seem reminiscent of some ancient burial practice "... To the ash 

 piles the boys at night will go to sing^^ the songs of their own side of 

 town. 



38 A design which is Spanish-Moorish. It appears on the tiles of the Alhambra and tops buildings in 

 Granada and in the Balearic Islands. It appears also in the pre-Conquest sculpture of San Juan Teoti- 

 huacan, Mexico. 



3« Paxo'a. Paxola means a big arroyo. Paxo means water, grain (p. 331). In the plaza the town chief 

 performs a night rain-making ritual. 



*'> According to Lummis 1: 120, who secretly took its measure, 320 yards. 



'■ See pp. 213,321. 



" Anciently the ash or refuse heap was a common Pueblo burial place. (See p. 432.) 



" See too, p. 333, note 49. 



