The Religious Life of the Zuñi Child | Page 2

shrine, directly attached to the "father" rock, and to the white man difficult of access. Here I found many offerings of plume sticks (T[=e] l[=i]k-tk[=i]-n[=a]-we).
Before entering upon the purely mythologic phases of Zu?i child life I will present a brief sketch of some of the Zu?i beliefs. There are thirteen secret orders in Zu?i, in many of which women and children are conspicuous, besides the purely mythologic order of the K[=o]k-k[=o]. All boys are initiated into this order, while but few girls enter it. It is optional with a girl; she must never marry if she joins the K[=o]k-k[=o], and she is not requested to enter this order until she has arrived at such age as to fully understand its grave responsibilities and requirements.
Let us follow the Zu?i tradition of the ancient time, when these people first came to this world. In journeying hither they passed through four worlds, all in the interior of this, the passageway from darkness into light being through a large reed. From the inner world they were led by the two little war gods [=A]h-ai-[=u]-ta and M[=a]-[=a]-s[=e]-we, twin brothers, sons of the Sun, who were sent by the Sun to bring these people to his presence. They reached this world in early morning, and seeing the morning star they rejoiced and said to the war gods: "We see your father, of whom you have told us." "No," said the gods, "this is the warrior who comes before our father;" and when the sun arose the people fell upon the earth and bowed their heads in fear. All their traditions point to the distant land of their appearance in this world as being in the far northwest; from, there they were accompanied by [=A]h-ai-[=u]-ta and M[=a]-[=a]-s[=e]-we. These little gods occupy important positions in Zu?i myth and legend. After long journeying, it was decided that the Priest Doctor (K[=a] wi-m[=o] sa) should send his son and his daughter in advance to discover some favorable spot upon which to build a village. The youth and the maiden finally ascended a peak from, which to have an extended view of the country. "Rest here, my sister, for you are tired," said the youth, "and I will go alone." From fatigue, the girl soon sank into a slumber, and when the youth returned, he was impressed with the surpassing loveliness of his sister. They remained for a time on this mountain, and at their union they were transformed--the youth into a hideous looking creature, the K[=o]-y[=e]-m[=e]-shi (Plate XX); the maiden into a being with snow white hair, the K[=o]-m[=o]-k[)e]t-si. The [t]K[=o]-thl[=a]-ma (hermaphrodite) is the offspring of this unnatural union. The youth said to his sister, "We are no longer like our people; we will therefore make this mountain our home. But it is not well for us to be alone; wait here and I will go and prepare a place for our others." Descending the mountain, he swept his foot through the sands in the plains below, and immediately a river flowed and a lake appeared, and in the depths of this lake a group of houses, and in the center of this group a religious assembly house, or kiva, provided with many windows, through which those not privileged to enter the kiva might view the dance within. After he performed this magic deed, he again joined his sister on the mountain, from which they could see their people approaching. The mountain has since that time borne the name of K[=o]-k[=o]k-shi--k[=o]k-shi meaning good.
The first of the [=A]h-shi-wi, or Zu?i, to cross this river were the ?n-shi-i-que, or Bear gens; T[=o]-w[=a]-que, Corn gens; and [t]Ko-[=o]h-l[=o]k-t[=a]-que, Sand Hill Crane gens. When in the middle of the river the children of these gentes were transformed into tortoises, frogs, snakes, ducks, and dragonflies. The children thus transformed, while tightly clinging to their mother's necks, began to bite and pinch. The mothers, trembling with fear, let them fall into the river. [=A]h-ai-[=u]-ta and M[=a]-[=a]-s[=e]-we, missing the children, inquired, "Where are the little ones?" The mothers replied, "We were afraid and dropped them into the water." The war gods then cried out to the remainder of the people, "Wait, wait until we speak with you," and they told the women to be brave and cling tightly to the children until they crossed the river. Obeying the gods' commands, they carried the little ones over, though they were transformed just as the others. Upon reaching the opposite shore, they were again restored to their natural forms, excepting their hands, which were duck-webbed. These webs were cut with [=A]h-ai-[=u]-ta's stone knife and thus restored to perfect hands.
The mothers whose children fell into the waters were grieved and refused to be comforted. The Priest Doctor was also grieved, and said, "Alas, where have the little ones gone?" [=A]h-ai-[=u]-ta and