lo Virginia Shropshire Heath 



turning the little clay pedestals to which the corn shoots were at- 

 tached. After this all six serpents raised their heads and wagged 

 them back and forth, roaring continually in spite of all Hahai- 

 wiipti's efforts to appease them. In the audience as on the stage, 

 wild excitement prevailed. Some of the spectators threw meal 

 at the effigies, others said prayers, others shouted aimlessly. 



At length the song diminished in volume, the effigies disap- 

 peared through their respective orifices, the sun disks fell into 

 place, and, after one final roar from behind the screen, all was 

 quiet. The miniature corn stalks were distributed in the audience, 

 after which the actors packed up their possessions, in the semi- 

 darkness provided by the fire-tenders, and set out for the next 

 kiva where they were to repeat this self-same act. 



Act IV 



Again strange cries were heard from the hatchway and again 

 the fire-tenders found it necessary several times to bid the visitors 

 enter. At length, there came down the ladder a man wearing a 

 mask covered with vertical zigzag lines. On his back he carried 

 a bundle which seemed to be very heavy for he pretended to slip 

 on every rung of the ladder as he descended When he finally 

 reached the floor he opened the bundle and displayed a metate 

 and meal-grinding stone. Tliese he arranged before the fire-place 

 and then seated himself to one side. Another man followed sim- 

 ilarly laden, and disposed of the contents of his bundle in like 

 manner, seating himself upon the opposite side. Now came two 

 masked girls elaborately dressed in white ceremonial blankets and 

 knelt before the grinding stones in the attitude of those about to 

 grind corn. At this point a chorus of masked men entered and 

 took their places behind the girls. Then, to the rhythm of a 

 solemn dance, the men began to sing, further complicating the 

 rhythm by clapping their hands. Meanwhile, swaying their bodies 

 to the basic rhythm of the song, the girls ground corn. 



When this scene was completed, the young men in the role of 

 brothers to the girls grinding corn, carried on an animated con- 

 versation with the fire-tenders relative to the reputation of the 



386 



