828 



ZUNI RITUAL POETRY 



aration for the great ceremony of the last night at which the sick are 

 cured. On this night the beast gods are present in all the society 

 houses, and take possession of those who have the secret loiowledge 

 of how to invoke them. 



The foUomng prayers purport to be those spoken by the heads of 

 the Cuma'kwe and Ant Societies, respectively, at some time during 

 tliis four-day retreat. The man who dictated it was not a member of 

 either societj^ and did not state the precise use of the prayers. Nor 

 were my other informants famiUar \vith them. Such prayers might 

 be used on any one of a great number of occasions. 



My life-giving fathers, 



At the place called since the first 

 beginning Tcipia, 



You dwell. 



Where the deer stands, 

 5 At Dry place you dwell. 



My fathers, 



Life-giving priests, there you dwell. 



This day, 



Here at Itiwana, 

 10 Our daylight fathers, 



Our mothers. 



Our children. 



In their inner rooms 



For their fathers, 

 15 Life-giving priests, 



Perpetuating the rite handed down 

 since the first beginning, 



Have spread out your cloud blanket, 



Vour life-giving road they have 

 made. 

 20 Your spring they have made. 



Perpetuating the rite handed down 

 since the first beginning 



You have sat down quietly before it ; 



At your back, 



At your feet, 

 25 We shall sit down beside you. 



Desiring your waters, 



Your seeds, 



Your riches, 



Your long life, 

 30 Your old age, 



Desiring these, I set you down 

 quietly. 



As you sit here quietly 



As I wish, according to my words, 



You will take us to be your chil- 

 dren. 



o'naya-naka hom a^'tatcu 

 lja''Ea tci'miEalfa tci'pia 



ton a''teaiye 



natsik e'lawa 

 5 te'Eusnawa Ion a-'teaiye. 



hom a''tatcu 



o'nayanaka a"'ciwani ton a'teaiye. 



lu'lfii ya'ton'e 



li''la i'tiwan;a 

 10 te'Eohanan yam a''tatcu 



yam a''tsita 



yam tca'we 



a'wan te'li'to'a 



hom a-'tatcu 

 15 o'naya'naljii a''ciwaui'i 



lu'kii ya'ton'e 



yam ko"nho} tci'miEalfa te'lia'na 



yam a'weluyan pe'wuna 



yam o'naj'a'naka o'nealan ya'"na'a 



20 yam Ka'nakwe'nan ya''na'a 



yam ko"no} tci'mika'kowa te'- 

 lia'na 



Ion i'tinan Ja'Kil^a. 



to"na'wan ma'si'a 



to"na-wan sa'kwi'a 

 25 i'miya'welana 



to"na'wan Ea'cima 



to"na'wan to'waconan-e 



u'tenan-e 



o'naya'nakii 

 30 la'ciaka a'ntecemana 



to"na ho' tinan-la'Eu 



Eon i-'tinan la'kikna 

 ko'nhol ho' a'ntecema pe'yena- 

 Eowa 

 I ho"na ton tca'wilawa 



