The Religious Life of the Zuñi Child | Page 8

head of the serpent through the hatchway, that those who are privileged to assemble in the kivas may see the fetich. The K[=o]-l[=o]-oo-w[)i]t-si is then taken to the Kiva of the Earth, H[=e]-tk[=a]-pa-que. The walls of this kiva are decorated with two K[=o]-l[=o]-oo-w[)i]t-si, which extend almost around the entire walls of the room, the heads nearly meeting at the north end of the room. The fetich is placed between the heads. The others of the K[=o]k-k[=o] repair to their respective kivas, the H[=e]-i-i-que or Kiva of the North, the Moo-h[=e]-i-que or Kiva of the West, the Choo-p[=a]-?-que or Kiva of the South, the [=O]h-h[=e]-i-que or Kiva of the East, and the Oop-ts[=a]n-[=a]-[=a]-que or Kiva of the Heavens. From each of these kivas men and youths from the secret orders to which I have referred are assembled to receive the K[=o]k-k[=o]. When all the K[=o]k-k[=o] have gone to their kivas, the ten K[=o]-y[=e]-m[=e]-shi, who reach the village after the others, go to their house, which is not one of the sacred assembly houses, but chosen from among the S[=u]s-ki-i-que, or people of the Wolf gens.
The K[=o]k-k[=o] sing and dance in their own kivas, then change about, those of the North passing to the West and those of the West going to the South, and so on. This is continuous until the first white streak warns them that day is approaching. At this time the head of the K[=o]-l[=o]-oo-w[)i]t-si is put through the opening in the side wall of the kiva, when all who choose may look upon it. Behind this creature the old priest stands and blows through the body, making the same peculiar noise, representing the roaring of a sea monster, that he has kept up throughout the night. The image is only seen by the uncertain light of the faintest impression of day. P[=a]-oo-t[=i]-wa remains with the K[=o]-l[=o]-oo-w[)i]t-si in the Kiva of the Earth. At sunrise the S?-l?-m[=o]-b[=i]-ya go to this kiva, each bearing the plume stick made on the sixth day and an ear of corn. The S?-l?-m[=o]-b[=i]-ya of the North first advances to the priest of the K[=o]-l[=o]-oo-w[)i]t-si and, presenting him with the plumes and ear of yellow corn, prays that the K[=o]-l[=o]-oo-w[)i]t-si will give to his people the seeds of the earth; the S?-l?-m[=o]-b[=i]-ya of the West next approaches, presenting his wand and an ear of blue corn, praying that the K[=o]-l[=o]-oo-w[)i]t-si will bring to his people the seeds of the earth; and so the red corn of the South, the white of the East, the all-color of the Heavens and the black of the Earth are presented with the same prayer. The S?-l?-m[=o]-b[=i]-ya remove their masks after entering the kiva, when they immediately lose their identity as the K[=o]k-k[=o]. They are merely men now, praying to the K[=o]k-k[=o]. This ceremony over, they return to their respective kivas, having put on their masks before leaving the Kiva of the Earth.
At this time the [t]S[=i]-[t]s[=i]-[t]ki partially ascends the ladder of the Kiva of the North, remaining just inside of the hatchway, and, holding the rabbit to his mouth, calls through the reed: "Your little grandfather is hungry; he wishes something to eat; bring him some stewed meat." The K[=o]-y[=e]-m[=e]-shi, in obedience to the request of the little grandfather, go to the homes of the children to be initiated, calling for food. At the same time the K[=o]-y[=e]-m[=e]-shi give to each novitiate his name. Previous to this the boy is designated as baby boy, younger boy, older boy, &c. The food is received by the K[=o]-y[=e]-m[=e]-shi and taken to the Kiva of the North, where it is divided and carried to the different kivas. For this occasion the native beans are prepared. There is as great a variety of color in these as in the corn. The yellow beans are carried to the Kiva of the North, the blue beans to the Kiva of the West, the red to the Kiva of the South, the white to the Kiva of the East, the all color to the Kiva of the Heavens, the black to the Kiva of the Earth. A sumptuous meal is now served in each of the kivas.
After this meal the K[=o]k-k[=o] begin their bodily decorations, with their bodies almost nude. Those of the North are painted yellow; those of the West, blue; those of the South, red; those of the East, white; those of the Heavens, all colors on the body and yellow on the neck and upper arms; those of the Earth, black, with some bits of color. This done, the S?-l?-m[=o]-b[=i]-ya of the North passes through the village and, going for a short distance to the north, deposits a plume stick, the stick to which the plumes are attached being painted yellow. The S?-l?-m[=o]-b[=i]-ya of the West, South, and East plant their plumes