BUNZEL] RELIGIOUS LIFE 491 



and are tribal property administered in trust by self-perpetuating 

 cult groups. Other masks are individual property which are destroyed 

 at the death of the owner. Like etowe, masks are regularh^ fed. 



The altars of the medicine societies consist of painted slat altars, 

 a sort of reredos erected at certain of their ceremonies, stone images 

 of the Beast Priests, tutelaiy gods of the medicine societies, and the 

 same sort of miscellaneous collection of objects as are used on 

 priests' altars. Furthermore, each member of the higher or curing 

 orders of the medicine societies possesses a mi'le (plural miwe), an 

 ear of corn wrapped in feathers which is his personal amulet, and is 

 destroyed at his death. The miwe of members are placed on society 

 altars dui'ing all ceremonies. 



Some men always carry with them pieces of medicine roots or 

 packages of red jjaint as amulets. Others possess collections of peb- 

 bles and sticks of black paint, from which they seek help in special 

 emergencies, and which are honored with prayers and songs. Perfect 

 ears of com and ears with flattened ends are believed to have pro- 

 tective powers. One man sold to the writer a personal fetish, a " teck- 

 win'e," together with the ritual and prayers connected with its use. 

 The fetish consisted of four stones, two slender uprights about 2 

 inches long, one brown and one white, male and female, respectively, 

 a curiously colored triangular stone about an inch long called the 

 "heart" and another round stone called the "head." There was a 

 ritual for setting them up, and prayers. The ritual was used at the 

 winter solstice "or any time." 



There also is the "Santu," a small St. Francis, inherited from early 

 Franciscan padres, whom the Zunis consider a Virgin, and who is 

 besought at a special festival held in her honor, for the blessing of 

 fertility. 



The possession of a major fetish, such as eto'we or a mask, protects 

 the house where it is kept; "it gives you something to pray for and 

 makes the house valuable." But its possession may also be a source 

 of danger, for if neglected or desecrated it may cause harm to its keeper. 

 That is one of the reasons why priests endeavor to be exemplary in 

 their conduct. 



COMPULSIVE MAGIC 



About each sacred object clusters a body of fLxed ritual of magical 

 purport. A large number of these magical practices might be classed 

 as imitative magic. During the retreats of priests polished round 

 stones are rolled across the floor to "call the thunder," for thimder 

 is caused by the rain makers rolling the thunderstone in their cere- 

 monial room. At many points in ceremonies tobacco smoke is 

 blown to the six cardinal points "that the rain makers may not with- 

 hold their misty breath." There are innumerable rites of this kind. 

 Among the most conspicuous are the presence on every altar of water 



