7S INDIWS OF THK SOUTHWEST. 



l)laced and an opening- in front liolds certain masks when 

 they are not in use. 



Tlie walls which are of stone are kept nicely plastered 

 by the women. The roof is composed first of large logs 

 placed crosswise resting on the top of the two side walls; 

 next, by many smaller poles placed lengthwise which are 

 in turn covered with brush and well packed clay. In 

 the middle a space five feet by seven is left for the hatch- 

 way. Masomy walls resting on the ceiling beams are 

 carried up for a few feet on all four sides. Across the 

 top of these walls are laid planks leaving an opening 

 four and a half feet long and two feet wide. Through 

 this hatchw^ay a ladder projects ten or twelve feet. 



The ceremonial rooms at Zuni are all included within 

 the large structure perhaps to conceal them from the 

 Spanish priests of past centuries. Their floors, however, 

 are always somewhat below the level of the earth out- 

 side. 



Castaneda and other early Spanish writers seem to 

 have been amused by these kivas, estufas (stoves) they 

 called them. They are described as being situated in 

 the yards of the buildings with their roofs level with 

 the ground. There were in that day both square and 

 round kivas. Those of Taos are mentioned in particu- 

 lar, one of which was said to have twelve pine posts of 

 large size supporting the roof. The floors were paved 

 with large smooth stones with a boxed-in fireplace in 

 which small brush was burned for heat enabling the 

 occupants to remain in them as in a bath. 



The kivas to-day are used as clubrooms and loafing 



