Dramatic Elements in American Indian Ceremonials 5 



celebrates the return of the sun, the god of war as well as the god 

 of germination. This religious observance occurs in December 

 at the time of the winter solstice and serves, it would seem, as a 

 sort of invocation to the sun, an insurance of its return. There 

 are many preliminary ceremonials, as there are in all such re- 

 ligious celebrations. These occur in the various kivas, secret 

 society lodges, previous to the final central dramatization which 

 takes place on the last night in the Moiikiva. 



To get a clear idea of this distinctly indoor performance, 

 imagine yourself a companion of Mr. Fewkes for the celebration 

 of 1 891 at Walpi.* Upon entering the kiva or secret society 

 lodge through the hatchway/ perhaps the first thing to be noticed 

 would be the bower effect of the ceiling, so studded is it with 

 numerous strands of feathers and pinon needles, each strand, by 

 the way, having played an important symbolic part in the period 

 of preparation. At the west wall of the kiva is an altar of stacked 

 corn flanked and fronted by a bank of shrubbery, the space be- 

 tween the corn pile and the roof being filled with wands orna- 

 mented with artificial flowers. In the center of the shrubbery fac- 

 ing east, is a gourd with an eight inch aperture through which is 

 thrust the head of an effigy of Paliiliikonuh, the plumed-headed 

 snake of the type certain of the Katcinas brought with them as 

 pets, when first they emerged upon the upper earth through the 

 sipapii, or opening in the center of the earth. The head of this 

 effigy is painted black. A tongue-like appendage hangs from its 

 mouth. All the preliminary chants and dances, in which various 

 kiva groups may be distinguished, each with its own type of head 

 covering or mask, decorated with symbols of rain clouds (an 

 almost constant prayer among these desert folk is the prayer for 

 rain), and each with its characteristic sun-shield, — all these may 

 be passed over for the sake of the ceremony proper which com- 

 prises a purely religious rite followed by a performance of re- 

 ligious import, unmistakably dramatic in character. 



On the north side of the room is seated one old chief alone and, 



^ St& iSih. Annual Report of the Bureau of ff/iwo/ogrj;, Washington, 1897. 

 5 See PI. IV, 19th A. R. B. E., Washington, 1898. The pueblo kiva is 

 underground, hence the hatchway. 



