954 ZUNI KATCINAS [eth. ann. 47 



persons called from the housetops to participate. On other days they 

 appear in the plaza for a few hours in the afternoon, fully clothed 

 and wrapped in blankets (ordinarily the weather at this season is 

 inclement and intensely cold). 



On the final (sixth) night, the Koyemci eat their evening meal at 

 sundown (about 5.30 o'clock). The people of the house bring in 10 

 bowls of meat stew, 10 baskets of paper bread, and 10 tubs of wheat 

 bread and set them down before the impersonators. The father of 

 the Koyemci slowly dips his roll of paper bread into his stew. After he 

 has taken four mouthfuls, he lays down his imeaten roll of bread. 

 This is the sign for the others who have been eating rapidly, to stop. 

 The balance of the food is removed by the wives or sisters of the 

 Koyemci who have come for this purpose, and taken to their houses. 

 From now on until they are freed sometime the following night they 

 may touch neither food nor drink. Large numbers of people go to 

 the Koyemci house to watch this curious evening meal. 



On this night the full quota of dances is performed. The dance 

 sets all visit the Koyemci house early in the evening. By 10 o'clock 

 all have been there. Shortly after the Koyemci mask and visit the 

 Ca'lako houses, as described above, for the last tinae. Tliis is a 

 very solenin occasion. The Koyemci do not now indulge in any 

 clowning or joking. On lea\ang each house all present sprinkle them 

 liberally with meal. This sprinlding of meal is by no means per- 

 functory on this occasion, and the murmured prayers are most ear- 

 nestly spoken. The rite shows the great reverence in which the 

 Koyemci are held. (Observed December, 1927, 1928.) 



Early the following morning, the society choir takes the Koyemci 

 to the plaza and sends them home, bidcUng them farewell in a special 

 farewell song which runs as follows: "Our fathers, Molanliaktu, now 

 .vou are about to go to your village of the masked gods. From there 

 surely you will not fail to send us your waters." 



The balance of their day is admirably described in the following 

 native account. (All the events recorded, except those in the house 

 of the priests and the father's house have been observed in 1927 and 

 1928. For the ceremonies not observed, the full texts of the prayers 

 were recorded from another informant. These are given on p. 777.) 



" Eight days before Ca'lako the Koyemci go into retreat in the house 

 of their father and after Ca'lako they stay in for six days more. 

 So they are in for 14 days. The day that Pautiwa brings in the 

 Corn Maids is the last day they are in. On that day their aunts 

 (i. e., father's sisters) bring them presents because during the whole 

 year they have been praying for the people of Itiwana. 



"On the last day in the morning they come out of their father's 

 house. Each brings sacks and buckskins and wagon cloths, and 

 they take them to the plaza. Here they dance. Then pekwin comes 



