The Religious Life of the Zuñi ChildStevenson, Matilda Coxe
Religion
The Religious Life of the Zuñi Child
Stevenson, Matilda Coxe
Indian children -- North America; Zuni Indians -- Religion
others, go to their house, which is not one of the sacred assembly
houses, but chosen from among the Sūs-ki-i-que, or people of the Wolf
gens.
The Kōk-kō 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
Kō-lō-oo-wĭt-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. Pā-oo-tī-wa remains with
the Kō-lō-oo-wĭt-si in the Kiva of the Earth. At sunrise the
Sä-lä-mō-bī-ya go to this kiva, each bearing the plume stick made
on the sixth day and an ear of corn. The Sä-lä-mō-bī-ya of the
North first advances to the priest of the Kō-lō-oo-wĭt-si and,
presenting him with the plumes and ear of yellow corn, prays that the
Kō-lō-oo-wĭt-si will give to his people the seeds of the earth; the
Sä-lä-mō-bī-ya of the West next approaches, presenting his wand
and an ear of blue corn, praying that the Kō-lō-oo-wĭt-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
Sä-lä-mō-bī-ya remove their masks after entering the kiva, when
they immediately lose their identity as the Kōk-kō. They are merely
men now, praying to the Kōk-kō. 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]Sī-[t]sī-[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 Kō-yē-mē-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 Kō-yē-mē-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 Kō-yē-mē-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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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