124 INDIANS i)V THK SOlTilWE.ST. 



T.alakonti dance is given. During the j)ul)lic dance of 

 both the Ocxjol and the Lalakonti ceremonies, darts 

 are thrown at netted wheels and basket trays are waved 

 in the hands of the dancers. These trays are later given 

 to the spectators. 



The last of this series of ceremonies is held in October 

 or November. All the male fraternities join in its 

 celebration. The chief feature is the making of a new 

 fire by means of a firedrill. While this is taking place, 

 the trails to the village are closed by drawing a line 

 of corn meal across them. 



The greater number of the Pueblo ceremonies are for 

 the purpose of bringing rain, maintaining the water in 

 the springs and increasing the yield of the fields. 



Religious Beliefs. 



From the bewildering number of supernatural beings 

 believed in by the sedentary people, a few stand out 

 with considerable clearness. Of these, the sun is 

 undoubtedly the most important as appears from the 

 offerings made and the prayers directed to it, especially 

 when it is rising. 



A goddess of all hard substances is believed to live 

 in a floating house in the western ocean. She and her 

 counterpart in the eastern ocean originated animals 

 and men from cuticle rubbed from their bodies. The 

 small image of the desired being made from this cuticle 



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