Zuñi) in the contrasting fact that if a man divorces his wife even for the most flagrant immorality, it is he who leaves the house to her use, though, as sometimes happens, he has rebuilt it, and he does this without the faintest feeling of any injustice done to himself. The Ácomas use the Catholic form of sponsorship at marriage, and no divorce is permitted. The parents of either one of the bridal pair choose a man and his wife to be the “best man” and “best woman,” and these two take the couple directly home from the ceremony to their house, wash their heads, and give them advice. The man speaks first and gives a present to the groom; then his wife does likewise with the bride. The bridegroom also gives his bride a present, perhaps a dress. Although at Ácoma divorce is said to be unknown, it is very likely that here, as in most pueblos, the simple device of putting beyond the doorway all the man’s personal belongings is all the information he needs that his wife no longer wishes him to live with her. Similarly, if a man throws his blanket over his shoulder in a certain way and departs, his wife is notified of his intention to separate from her. A definite idea was certainly given us at Ácoma in 1922 that the government there is fundamentally theocratic. I am, however, indebted to Dr. Parsons for the details of its organization as she understood it in 1918. The officials of Ácoma are a cacique (_ti-á-moni_, arch-ruler), a governor with purely administrative functions, two lieutenant-governors (_tenientes_), three war chiefs (_tsatichucha_), and their two cooks (_cocineros_). There are besides, ten _principales_, who, like the cacique, are chosen for life, whereas all other officials serve but one year at a time. A chief duty of the cacique[149] is to act as penitent for the sins of his tribe; and when he goes out into the wilderness by untrodden paths to fast for an uncertain length of days, the whole pueblo is in solemn mood, and the chance visitor is not made welcome.[150] Contrary to the custom in most pueblos, at Ácoma the cacique has no subordinates; neither does he have to be a _cheani_ (medicine man) himself, although he is always appointed by the _cheani_. The true character of the cacique’s position has never been clearly defined for us, since he will not reveal the secrets of his office to anyone, unless to the man he looks upon as his successor. Although his title is that of “Arch-ruler,” he is evidently not all-powerful, for the war captain (_hócheni_)[151] is his warden, with power to punish him if he becomes arrogant or remiss in his duties.