304 ISLETA, NEW MEXICO [eth. ann. 47 



After the two groups had finished dancing, each making only the 

 single appearance, Pablo Abeita, the White Corn chief, gave a talk 

 in Isletan, telling the people to stay to Mass; but only a few did stay 

 either for the Mass or for the talk in wSpanish by Father Dozier, who 

 noted the fact that it was the thirty-fourth anniversary of his coming 

 to Isleta. Meanwhile outside of the church the sheriff was busy. 

 A Mexican had stolen the hat of one of the town boys. Some girls 

 saw the hat under the Mexican's coat and reported to the sheriff, 

 who opened the thief's coat and proceeded to take him to the jail, 

 refusing on the waj' a bribe of $15. 



The following morning, Christmas Day, about 10.30, the shure' 

 dancers came out first, from their house. The men walked with the 

 choir, the women followed in a group behind, until all reached the 

 middle of the plaza, whence in a line, the sexes alternating, they dance- 

 stepped into the churchyard. Four men in red blankets went ahead, 

 clearing the way, picking up stones, making one of the sightseeing 

 automobiles move from the churchyard gate, motioning to a photog- 

 rapher not to take pictures. One man in particular with a wand 

 stick appeared to be in charge of the dancers. The dance figures in 

 the churchyard were somewhat more complicated than those of the 

 night preceding in the church. The dance make-up was the same. 

 One man was wearing black shoes and trousers with the kilt over the 

 trousers. He wore a green banda over closely-shaven hair — a 

 "progressive!" 



In the churchyard stood a row of women who one by one would 

 approach one dancer or another and put something into their right 

 hand, which the recipient tucked away in his or her belt, perhaps com 

 meal, perhaps money. Toward the conclusion of the groups' dancing, 

 bulkier gifts were made — I noticed a large water jar and a large paper 

 parcel. 



The shure' group withdrew to give place to the Black Eyes, and all 

 day, with a break for dinner, the groups would alternate, I was told, 

 dancing always in the churchyard. 



Thanks to the secretiveness that so often expresses itself in odd 

 tin'ns among Pueblo Indians, the name or names of this Christmas 

 dancing I was unable to learn from my host — perhaps he thought I 

 might use the Isletan term casually in town, and so betray him. But 

 in other circumstances he had given me the names and descriptions of 

 four dances which form the usual Christmastide program, to none of 

 which did the dance as I observed it entirely correspond. These 

 four dances are: 



1. Nopoashorti (night dance ?). Six men alternating with six 

 women, on entrance, three in opposite lines. Men wear dance Idlt, 

 fox sldn, bells; body wliitened; two parallel lines of white on cheeks ; 

 bow and arrow; feathers in fan at back of head, turkey tail for shure', 



