32 ZUNI FETICHES. 



It rests with tlu'sc inembei'sliips and tlicso alone to perfect the fetiches 

 when found, and to carry on at stated intervals the ceremonials and 

 worship connected with them. 



When not in nse, either for snch ceremonials or for the hnnt, these 

 tribal fetiches are kept in a very ancient vessel of wicker-work, in 

 the House of the Deer Medicine (Nal-eton in kw'in), which is usually 

 tlie dwelling: place of the keeper. 



TnE RITES OF THEIR WORSHIP. 

 TIIK DAY OF THE COlINCIl OF THE FETICHES. 



The principal ceremonial connected with the worship of tlie Prey 

 Beings takes place cither a little before or after the winter solstice or 

 national New Year. 



This is dne to the fact that many of the members of the above men- 

 tioned associations also belong to other societies, and are recpiired on 

 the exact night of the New Year to perform other religions duties than 

 tho.se connected with the fetich worship. Hence, the fetiches or gods 

 of prey have their special New Year's day, called We-ma-a-wa li-pu-k'ia 

 t6-wa-ne ("The day of the council of the fetiches"). 



On this occasion is held the grand council of the fetiches. They are 

 all taken from their place of deposit and arranged, according to species 

 and color, in front of a symbolic slat altar on the tloor of the council 

 chamber in a way I have attempted to indicate, as far as possible, by 

 the arrangement of the figures on the plates, the quadrupeds being 

 placed upright, while the Eagles and other winged fetiches are suspended 

 from the rafters by means of cotton cords. Busily engaged in observing 

 other ceremonials and debarred from actual entrance, until my recent 

 initiation into the Priesthood of the Bow, I have unfortunately never 

 witnessed any part of this ceremonial save by stealth, and cannot describe 

 it as a whole. I reserve the right, therefore, to correct any details of 

 the ibllowing at some future day. 



The ceremonials last throughout the latter two-thirds of a night. 

 Each member on entering approaches the altar, and with prayer-meal 

 in hand addresses a long prayer to the assembly of fetiches, at the close 

 of which he scatters the prayer-meal over them, breathes on and from 

 his hand, and takes his place in the council. An opening prayer-chant, 

 lasting from one to three hours, is then sung at intervals, in which various 

 members dance to the sound of the constant rattles, imitating at the 

 close of each stanza the cries of the beasts represented by the fetiches. 



At the conclusion of the song, the "Keeper of the Deer Medicine," 

 who is master priest of the occasion, leads off in the recitation of a long 

 metrical ritual, in which he is followed by the two warrior priests with 

 shorter recitations, and by a prayer from another priest (of uncertain 



