254 ISLETA, NEW MEXICO [eth. ann. 47 



Rey, a notable ceremonialist, had removed to Sandia against the 

 wishes of the townspeople. The confiscation and disposal of his 

 property, however, exempUfy gubernatorial functions. 



Probably most disputes over property are taken to the governor. 

 At her death Lucinda's mother-in-law left her whole flock of 1,000 

 sheep to the husband of her deceased daughter. With him and his 

 son the old lady had been living. She left nothing to the widow and 

 children of her deceased son, Lucinda and her children. So Lucinda 

 appealed to the governor. As it happened, the governor was uncle to 

 the heir and decided in his favor. 



As elsewhere, the governor is the go-between for Washington and 

 the hierarchy. Were any important question to the fore, as was, for 

 example, the introduction of the office of Federal judge, the governor 

 would call a meeting of the chiefs and others (presumably the council), 

 a public meeting (shuna natoyim), in the Mexican term, junta, in the 

 public Idva. The office of Federal judge was introduced, we should 

 note; it was held by Pablo Abeita for five years. For two years now 

 (1926) the ofl&ce has been vacant. "VNTiile in office Pablo Abeita was 

 severe. I heard of his fining four women for tale bearing — one $20, 

 two $15, and one $5 — the last for saying that two years before she 

 had seen the husband of her niece-in-law visiting another woman. 

 The wife had come in crying about her husband to her aunt-in-law 

 and spent the night with her. Gossip goes that the judge kept the 

 fines for liimself. Such would be the gossip, I surmise, about any 

 judge in any pueblo. 



For two years (1924-25) Juan Trinida Abeita has been governor. 

 He is cousin to Pablo Abeita, who is himself lieutenant governor. 

 One of Pablo Abeita's sons, as noted, is in the council. His brother- 

 in-law, Felipe Abeita, has also served as governor. For Pueblo circles 

 the Abeita family is remarkably self-assertive. Of Pablo Abeita, 

 people say that he wants to keep up his own ways (i. e.. White Corn 

 ceremonial, see later), but that he wants to destroy the others. . . . 

 In 1927 Jose Padilla (chief of the Corn people, iet'ainin), was governor. 



CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION 



Ceremonial Groups 



Succession to office in the ceremonial groups appears to be based 

 mainly upon the principle of apprenticeship; the successor to office 

 is the trained understudy. He is the auki'i, or, as we shall call him, 

 the chief assistant. The next or second assistant is called toap- 

 tadelopi'i "following him." The chief or first assistant sits at the 

 right hand of the chief; the second, at his left hand.*^ Among the 

 other assistants the one most recently taken in, "the last helper," 



82 Compare right-hand man and left-hand man in the ceremonial organization of the Tewa and at Jemez. 



