964 ZUNI KATCINAS [eth. ass. 47 



It is very difficult to get a man to serve asSaiyatacamore than twice. 

 By that time he has had all the honor to be had from the office, and is 

 reluctant to assume the responsibihtics. The office is costly as well 

 as arduous. Should he refuse, one of the other men who served with 

 him will be asked to serve, should there be one among them of sufficient 

 wealth and inteffigence, and of imqucstioned character. The priests 

 will tiy to fold a man who has served in one of the lesser roles, because 

 he will already be famiUar with the prayers and chants. Frequently 

 consideration wUl be given to the wishes of the people who have taken 

 the crook of entertainment. I loiow one case in which a man who 

 took the Ca'lako crook for the second time asked that the same man 

 be appointed as Ca'lako as had come into his house on the previous 

 occasion. This young man was not even a member of the kiva whose 

 crook his host had taken, but he was nevertheless appointed. In 

 1 928 the people in the Ciwana'kwe society house took the Saiyataca 

 crook, and the Saiyataca party was chosen from the Ciwanakwe 

 Society. I did not hear specifically that the women requested the 

 appointment, but the general impression seemed to be that the choice 

 had been made in deference to their wishes. 



Saiyataca is an impersonation of the greatest dignity and solemnity. 

 The impersonator is generally a man of middle age or older, who is 

 deeply impressed with the weight and importance of his office. He is, 

 therefore, inclined to be heavy. Everything in the impersonation 

 tends to this impression. Saiyataca's gait is ponderous; he walks 

 with exaggerated long strides, very slowly, always standing with one 

 foot poised in the air before bringing it down heavily. At each step 

 he shakes his rattle of deer scapidae with a terrific clatter. His 

 "talk" is declaimed in a loud voice, very slowly, and with marked 

 emphasis, and is of incredible length. His evenmg chant takes about 

 seven hours to perform. He talks pubhcly on other occasions also. 

 He has three speeches in the morning, a chant on the housetop at 

 dawn, which is afterwards repeated in the house, a long prayer to 

 the society choir, thanking them for their service, and a farewell 

 sjjeech to his hosts. AU are declaimed in the same weighty manner. 

 Altogether, Saiyataca is a very pompous gentleman. 



An informant offers the following comments on the impersonation: 



"The people think a great deal of Saiyataca. They think of him 

 making the New Year along with Pautiwa. He is the leader. The 

 priests choose him at Itiwau'a from any clan, so long as his heart is 

 good. There is a special wo'le for Saiyataca who holds office for life 

 and teaches the impersonators all the things they must do and all the 

 prayers. 



"The Saiyataca people meet every night from itiwan'a imtil Ca'lako 

 to practice their prayers. Their wo'le teaches them. Then when they 

 have finished their year they go to the house of the wo'le, the day 



