102 INDIANS OF THE SOUTHWEST. 



eastern edji;e of the mesa, starting so as to arrive tliere 

 about sunrise. Two ears of white corn which have 

 been lying near the child during the twenty daj^s are 

 carried with them. The grandmother touches these 

 ears of corn to the baby's breast and waves them 

 toward the east. She also strews corn meal toward the 

 sun, placing a little on the child's mouth. As she does 

 this, she praj^s, uttering in the course of her prayer 

 the various names w^hich have been given to the child. 

 The mother goes through a similar ceremony and utters 

 a similar prayer. 



The names given relate in some way to the clan of 

 the one who bestows them. Of the ^'arious names 

 given the child, one, because it strikes the iancy of the 

 famil}^ generally sticks and becomes the child's name 

 which is retained until the individual is initiated into 

 some ceremony. This usually takes place between 

 the ages of fifteen and eighteen. At that time, a new 

 name which is usually retained throughout the indi- 

 vidual's life is given by the man or woman who is 

 sponsor for the novice. 



At the present time at least, the Hopi young people 

 arrange their own marriages. When their minds are 

 thoroughly made up, and the young man has acquired 

 some property, the parents are informed of the matter. 

 Marriages usually take place in the fall or winter. The 

 first step is for the mother of the girl to accompany her 

 to the young man's house with a tray of white corn 

 meal. She gives this to the young man's mother, and 

 returns to her home. The girl remains and grinds 



