MORGAN] DESCRIPTION OF ZUNI CONTINUED. 139 
roof, the spaces between these rafters being filled with willow-brush; though 
some of the wealthier Zunians use instead shingles made by the carpenters 
of the village The women then finish the structure. The ceilings of all 
the older houses are low; but Zuni architecture has improved, and the 
modern style gives plenty of room, with doors through which one may pass 
without stooping. The inner walls are usually whitened. For this pur- 
_pose a kind of white clay is dissolved in boiling water and applied by hand. 
A glove of undressed goat-skin is worn, the hand being dipped in the hot 
liquid and then passed repeatedly over the wall. 
“In Zuni, as elsewhere, riches and official position confer importance 
upon their possessors. The wealthy class live in the lower houses, those of 
moderate means next above, while the poorer families have to be content 
with the uppermost stories. Naturally no one will climb into the garret 
who has the means of securing more convenient apartments, under the huge 
system of ‘‘ French flats,” which is the way of living in Zuni. Still there 
is little or no social distinction in the rude civilization, the whole population 
of the town living almost as one family. The Alcalde, or Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor, furnishes an exception to the general rule, as his official duties 
require him to occupy the highest house of all, from the top of which he 
announces each morning to the people the orders of the Governor, and 
makes such other proclamation as may be required of him. 
“Hach family has one room, generally the largest in the‘house, where 
they work, eat, and sleep together. In this room the wardrobe of the 
family hangs upon a log suspended beneath the rafters, only the more 
valued robes, such as those worn in the dance, being wrapped and carefully 
stored away in another apartment. Work of all kinds goes on in this large 
room, including the cookery, which is done in a fire-place on the long side, 
made by a projection at right angles with the wall, with a mantel-piece on 
which rests the base of the chimney. Another fire-place in a second room 
is from six to eight feet in width, and above this is a ledge shaped some- 
what like a Chinese awning. A highly-polished slab, fifteen or twenty 
inches in size, is raised a foot above the hearth. Coals are heaped beneath 
this slab, and upon it the Waiavi is baked. This delicious kind of bread is 
made of meal ground finely and spread in a thin batter upon the stone 
with the naked hand. It is as thin as a wafer, and these crisp, gauzy- 
