BCNZELl DANCES OF THE WINTER AND SUMMER SERIES 1015 



dressed this way. She carries in her liand the mother com. It is 

 wrapped with spruce branches to make the world green.'' 



She is called incorrectly the mother of the katcinas. She is really 

 the mother of the Koyemci. 



Komokatsik comes occasionally with KoRokci, and dances near the 

 head of the line. She also sometimes comes with the mixed dance. 



Mythology. — The text version of the myth of Siw^iluhsietsa is given 

 on p. 572. Cushing's version of this important myth in Outline of 

 Zuni Creation Myths, p. 399. Another informant adds the following 

 details: 



"She and her brother Siwuhlusiwa were the parentsof the Koyemci. 

 They came together and made a spring and then the spring ran. She 

 was menstruating when she went with her brother and that is why 

 the spring ran. It became the Sacred Lake and that is where the 

 mothers of the a-ciwi dropped their babies. The babies turned into 

 animals, but in the night they turned into katcinas. They did not 

 wear masks then, but they dressed just the waj" thej^ are represented 

 now. The babies grew up right aw^ay and turned into dancers. 

 Siwuluhsiwa and Siwuluhsietsa were the only grown-up people. That 

 is why she is called katcina old woman. Siwuluhsiwa is called Great 

 Father Koyemci or katcina husband. There were nine children, and 

 with the father there are ten. The father and the nine made their 

 home on the moimtain called Koyemci which is to the north of the 

 lake. KomokatsHv went into the lake to look after the katcinas. 



"In the winter during the period before the winter solstice when 

 the river is full of water they tell the children to take smooth pieces 

 of wood and diop them into the river. They are carried down the 

 river to the Sacred Lake. Katcina old woman lies in the middle of 

 the lake with her mouth open and the sticks just float into her mouth. 

 In her body they turn into 'babies' (wihe'we). They come out one 

 after the other and we tell the children that Komokatsik never gets 

 tired having children and never suffers with them. During the winter 

 dance series the katcinas bring in doUs for the children to play with 

 and they tell them they are Komokatsik's babies. They call this 

 i?sumawe."^ 



UPo'yona 



(Plate 35, d) 



Dressed like KoEokci with moccasins. Carries rattle and spruce. 

 (See p. 996 for description of Upo'yona in initiation ceremonies.) 

 Comes occasionally with KoRokci. 



3 See also description of winter solstice, p. 536. 



