PARSONS] RITUAL 279 



like a man," called k'oata *' (Fig. 7), of which it was said that 

 "perhaps they brought it up with them." I take it that the k'oata 

 is an antique war club. Kumpa or kabew'iride is also in possession 

 of one. (See pp. 259, 301 , 33 1 .) In the keeping of the town chief is a 

 stone kick-ball (w'iv) which in time of war, against whites or Mexi- 

 cans, not against Indians, would be used to send lightning and 

 thunder against the enemy.*- In connection with the kick-ball was 

 mentioned a stone whistle (tup) to call the rain. A lightning stone 

 (upini), described as an opalescent stone from water, figures in the 

 solstice ceremonies; also a stone called leachi tainin, rain people, 

 described as a spiral-shaped stone about 4 inches long. All the stone 

 fetishes figuring in the solstice ceremonies are re- 

 ferred to collectively as wahtainin,*^ all the people. 

 A veiy notable, and as far as I know unique, 

 fetish at Isleta appears in the sun calling or "pull- 

 ing down" ritual. The object is described in 

 vague terms as opening and closing and, pre- 

 sumably when open, glittering with the white 

 brilliance of the sun. It is thought of as the 

 sun himself, with power of flight. Presmnably 

 there is a like fetish of the moon.** 



. I..1I.1 Figure 7.— K'oata 



inferably (see p. 302) there is a fetish oi the 

 horned serpent, ikaina, of the animal mask typefoundinotherpueblos. 



The cane of the war chief which is called tue'funituli, cane prayer 

 stick black old man, is "the one that came out with them." It is the 

 "father" of the war chief. As elsewhere, the canes of the governor 

 and officers have also somewhat of a fetishistic character. 



In this connection may be mentioned the clay figurines of the 

 domestic animals and of chili, corn, and melons, which are made by 

 the women, and on the morning of December 29 taken by the senior 

 male of the household and buried in the corral, "so there will be more 

 of them," that the household may be "never short. "*^ 



Altar 



Of the medicine societies the altar (nake'e) consists of the terrace 

 cloud design in white meal at the base of wliich are set in clay the 

 Mothers.**' (Figs. 16 and 17.) This design is called kity, meaning 



<i The only etymology my informant could suggest was koa, sheep (but koa also means rabbit stick), 

 ta, "all right," but this, he insisted, no doubt quite properly, was not the right etymology. 



" See p. 368. In the tale the kick stick is also thrown to help the sun's daily progress. 



*3 Compare Parsons, 7: 60. 



" See p. 330. 



" Compare Parsons, 6; Parsons, 3: 260; also Oruening, illustration opposite p. 249. 



** Compare the altar of the pekwin of Zuili (Parsons 14: 17) and see p. 331. According to another inform- 

 ant there are painted wooden frames on the altars of the medicine societies, as at Laguna and Zufii. (Par- 

 sons 7: CO.) 



