530 INTRODUCTION TO ZUNI CEREMONIALISM [eth. ann. 47 



their prayer sticks here during; the day. At sundown the altar is 

 set up. Female members, who do not attend tliis meeting, send food 

 and leave their miwe for the altar. After dark the drum is taken 

 out and songs of the Beast Gods are sung. The gods are present in 

 the village at tliis tune, much the way the katcinas are present 

 throughout the summer. 



The great meetings of the societies are held at the whiter solstice. 

 On the ninth day following the Pekwin's announcement society mem- 

 bers meet early in the morning at their ceremonial houses. The day 

 is spent in prayer-stick making. The solstice prayer-stick bundles 

 of the societies are the most elaborate and beautiful products of tliis 

 highly developed art. They contain sticks for the ancients, for 

 deceased members of the society, and for Paiyatamu,'* gods of music, 

 poetiy, flowers and butterflies. Included in the bundle are the crook, 

 symbol of old age, and twigs of various medicinal plants. There are 

 no offerings to the Beast Gods at this time. 



At sundown the altar is set up. Women members, if they are not 

 planning to attend the night meeting, come bringing food and their 

 miwe and sprinkle corn meal on the altar. Late at night, about 2 or 

 3 o'clock in the morning, the No'we'kwe visit the Idva where the 

 priests have been waiting in silence before the altar of the Gods of 

 War. Here they perform a rite of exorcism, without wliich the cere- 

 mony can not proceed. When they have left the Bow Priests start 

 their song. As soon as their drum is heard the society people, who 

 have also been waiting in their own houses, start their own rites. 

 The songs sxmg at this tune are for the U'wanami. They are among 

 the most beautiful and sacred of all Zuni songs, and are known only 

 to the most learned members of the societies. The ceremony ends 

 at daybreak. The members come home, each bringing with liini his 

 nii'le, his bundle of prayer sticks, and a bundle of several ears of com 

 that have rested all night on the altar. The corn is kept for spring 

 planting and the prayer sticks are buried that afternoon, along with 

 each man's individual offerings to the sun and the ancients. After 

 this planting all society members except the Sa'niakakwe and the 

 Ci'wanakwe must abstain from all animal food for four days, in addi- 

 tion to the usual requirement of continence. The food taboo 

 obhgatory for society members is optional with others. For them, 

 too, it used to be obligatory and is probably related to the offering 

 to the sun. 



Tliis ceremony is for rain and fertility. It has nothing whatever 

 to do with curing, and in it the Beast Gods play no role. It is quite 



" Paiyatamu is the Keresan word payatyarau, "youth," He is associated with all things gay and youth- 

 ful. He is another romantic adventurer in folklore. His prayer stick, significantly, is double, and is 

 painted blue and yellow, the colors associated with sex. The flutes of Payatamu are played at the phallic 

 ritual of Oaolowickya. (Parsons: Winter and Summer Dance Series.) They are important in the Com 

 dance. 



