a ztnsri DANCE. 333 



describes a dance of the Moqui Indians, in which young men dressed as 

 women took part. 



The costumes of the dancers at Zufii were extremely picturesque, and 

 there is but little doubt that the various parts constituting the same are used 

 onlv for this ritual dance or ceremony, since, during our entire sojourn at 

 Zuni, none of the various articles of dress used on this occasion were seen 

 to be worn by any of the tribe. The blankets, tilmas, serapes, tunics, 

 sashes, and feathers are of a far superior workmanship, fabric, and texture 

 to those used for everyday home or outdoor life, and even in the design 

 of their patterns and selection of colors show a superior artistic skill. 



The costume of the leader, pictured in the center of the illustration, 

 consisted of dark-blue knitted worsted-leggings, covering the calf from 

 the ankle to the knee, leaving foot and knee bare. A sort of skirt, or kilt, 

 of rich and harmonious colors, worn around the waist, fell in graceful folds 

 from the hip to above the knees. A blue tunic, bordered with scarlet, with 

 long flowing sleeves, exposing the arm to the pit, completed the costume 

 proper. The only ornaments observed consisted of plumes made from 

 eagles' feathers, dyed of a rich yellow hue. These feathers were, apparently, 

 carefully selected from the down of young birds. Five or six feathers were 

 tied in a knot or bunch, and fastened to the top of the head, forming a fine 

 contrast with the long flowing jet-black hair. The insignia of the leader's 

 office were a staff, adorned with similar, but smaller, yellow feathers, and 

 a small earthen vase of basket form, painted and ornamented in black and 

 brown, and containing flour. 



The male dancers, as depicted on the left in the plate, were rather 

 sparingly dressed in a small blanket, which extended from the waist to half- 

 way down to the knee, and leaving the right leg entirely bare. These 

 blankets were of a rich white woolen fabric, with a colored border of a 

 diamond pattern. A green and red sash held the blanket about the waist, 

 and to this was attached a bunch of white strings, which hung down the 

 right leg, and, behind, a fox skin, the tail of which nearly reached the 

 ground. On top of the head was a yellow plume like that worn by the 

 leader, and over the face was a mask made of hide and painted sea-green, 

 with a horse-hair beard attached. Around the neck was a skein of black 



