6 Virginia Shropshire Heath 



opposite liim on the south, sit twelve chiefs, the floor space be- 

 tween being clear. The gorgeously arrayed novices from the vari- 

 ous other kivas, each carrying imitation squash blossoms and 

 spruce twigs in the left hand and corn in the right, approaching 

 the twelve chiefs over an especially strewn path of sand, squat 

 before them, facing south. The old chief on the north crosses 

 the room and takes his seat at the east of the line of chiefs. 

 When all are assembled, kiva members and outside spectators 

 standing against the eastern wall, the priests take their places be- 

 fore the altar. After a moment of intensely solemn quiet, the 

 officiating priest casts a handful of meal towards the effigy and 

 says a short prayer, quite likely to some unseen power rather than 

 to the effigy itself. Then, as if in recognition of this offering, 

 the head of the snake, quivering, seems to rise of itself slowly to 

 the center of the opening in the gourd. At this point, it seems to 

 give vent to four short melodious roars, after which it again sub- 

 sides to its former position. Following this may be heard a scrap- 

 ing sound, then all is quiet. Thereafter, each chief follows the 

 example of the priest with a like result. 



At this point, the public nature of the ceremony seems com- 

 pleted, for all the uninitiated spectators leave the kiva. The in- 

 tensely dramatic conflict taking place at this juncture is for the 

 most part private, only the Mofikiva members constituting any 

 sort of fixed audience. One chief, wearing the mask and bearing 

 the sun-shield characteristic of his kiva, advances and declaims in 

 a half chant, rising to a shriek at intervals. During this recital he 

 draws back to the fire-place and then shuffles slowly toward the 

 sipapu, an opening in the floor symbolizing the original opening 

 in the center of the earth through which the Katcinas came with 

 the Indians. At this point, the Mofikiva chief shouts loudly and 

 the chief on the verge of the sipapii springs over that opening, 

 after which all shout and sing in concert. 



The associates of the chief now taking the leading part, dash 

 down the ladder into the main room each bearing the sun-shield 

 distinctive of his kiva. Each of the band presents his shield to 

 his chief in military fashion. Then, except for the two mem- 

 bers, novices likely, who stand facing each other against the north 



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