STEVENSON] © VOLUNTARY INITIATION INTO THE KOK-KO. = 553 
These are taken from the blankets by three priests and placed in their 
own blankets, which rest over the left arm, and they, passing around, 
distribute the seeds to all*present. The sand of the fallen mounds is 
gathered in a blanket and deposited in the river, to be carried to the 
home of the Kok-k6. The boys now return to their bomes, accompanied 
by the guardian and one other of their attendants. In the early morn- 
ing the sister of the godfather goes for the boy and brings him to her 
house, where he enjoys a sumptuous breakfast. The godfather then 
leads the boy to the east for some distance from the village, sprinkling 
a line of sacred meal, and here he says a prayer, which the boy repeats 
after him, and the godfather, making a hole in the ground, plants a 
plume stick which he has made for the child. 
From this time the child eats no animal food for four days. The 
plume which has been placed on the child’s head in the kiva during the 
initiation is not removed till the fourth morning after the planting of 
the feathers, when he again goes over the road with his guardian, who 
deposits the plume from the child’s head with a prayer, which is re- 
peated by the child. 
Thus ends this remarkable initiation of the Zuni male child into the 
order of the Kok-ko. This is really mainly done by sponsors, and he 
must personally take the vows as soon as he is old enough. 
VOLUNTARY INITIATION INTO THE KOK-KO. 
After the first initiation of a boy into this order, he is left to decide 
for himself when he will assume the vows made for him by his sponsors, 
though the father and the godfather do not fail to impress upon the 
boy the importance of the second initiation, which occurs at an annual 
ceremonial; and when the boy has declared his determination to enter 
the order, if the K6k-k6 upon seeing him deem him too young, he is 
ordered to return to his home and wait awhile till his heart has become 
more wise. For this ceremonial the godparents and the boys assemble 
in the Kiva of the North. Each boy in turn takes his position to receive 
his whipping, which is necessary for initiation, The godfather, standing, 
bends his right knee, which the boy clasps, bowing his head low. The 
godfather holds the two ends of the blanket and buckskin tightly 
around the boy, while each of the four Sai-a-hli-4 in turn give him four 
strokes across the back with a bunch of the yucca blades. Two of the 
Ko-yé-mé-shi stand by and count the strokes; the others are in the plaza 
outside, indulging in their primitive games, which excite much merri- 
ment among the large assemblage of people. After each boy has re- 
ceived the chastisement and all are again seated, the four Sai-a-hli-a 
pass in turn to each boy. Each one taking off his mask, places it over 
the head of the boy, handing him his Spanish bayonets. The boy strikes 
the Kok-k6 once across each arm and once across each ankle. The 
Kok-ko does not speak, but the boy is instructed by his guardian, who 
talks to him in a whisper, telling him not to be afraid, but to strike 
