FEWKES] POWAMU CEREMONY 37 



returned with a nuitsk of ^Masauu. which he hiid by the tireplaco within 

 the ring of priests. It looked like a giant skull, but eloser examina- 

 tion showed it to be a great hollow gourd, with a large broken orifice 

 and small holes for eyes and mouth. It was not decorated, and was 

 destitute of feather adornment. In places around the broken part the 

 edge appeared serrated. Through the broken opening the head of the 

 man who wore the mask was thrust. At the same time that Momi 

 brought the mask he brought also two old, almost black blankets, two 

 ancient planting sticks, and two basket plaques in which were frag- 

 ments of piki (paper-bread) and other objects. 



Immediately after these objects had been laid on the iioor. each of 

 the chiefs puHed great whiffs of tobacco smoke on the mask, after 

 which they pra_ved very fervently in sequence, beginning with 

 Pautiwa. Songs then began, and as they sang Sakwistiwa took the 

 mask in his hand and squirted over it from his mouth an unknown 

 liquid which imparted a black color to the object. He then sprinkled 

 on the face of the mask a quantity of micaceous iron (yayala) and laid 

 it back on the floor. 



Each of the painted men then in turn approached the mask and 

 laid a stringed feather, called a nakwakwoci, in one of the basket 

 tra3's. The}' then formed in line and danced to songs, shaking cow 

 bells and rattles, making a great noise. Meanwhile one of the chiefs, 

 in a voice almost inaudible, talked to the mask. So low was his tone 

 that it would have been impossible for one to have understood this 

 address, even if he were well versed in the Hopi language. 



When the Maswiks had finished their songs, they filed out of the 

 room and the two men who were to personate Masauu began their 

 preparations. They tied agave (mobi) fiber about their legs and 

 arms, slung the black blanket under one arm and tied it over the 

 other shoulder; each took a planting stick and a basket tray. One of 

 these men then slipped the gourd over his head, and thus costumed 

 they left the room. 



Meanwhile the Maswiks, seating themselves on the top of the kiva, 

 were awaiting the preparation of the two Masauus, and when the latter 

 were ready they filed into the Moii kiva, where many male spectators 

 had gathered to see the performance presently to be described. 



These ]\Iasauu rites are performed in each kiva in rotation. V)egin- 

 ning with the Moi! kiva. In each of these rooms a considerable luim- 

 ber of male spectators had gathered to witness the rites, and the events 

 which occurred in the diflerent kivas were substantially identical. 

 Having seated himself among the spectators in one of the kivas. the 

 author witnessed the ceremonj- from beginning to end. 



As the line of Maswiks came in, a pinch of sacred meal was thrown 

 upon each by the kiva chief. A song then began, accompanied by 

 the bells which the katcinas carried, and soon the personator of 



