the Heavens, and to the Earth to procure cereals for the āh-shi-wi
he designated as the Sä-lä-mō-bī-ya. Previous to this time the
āh-shi-wi had subsisted on seeds of a grass. "When the seeds are
gathered," he said, addressing the serpent, "you will carry them
with water to the āh-shi-wi and tell them what to do with the seeds.
I will go in advance and prepare them for your coming." "But,"
said his people, "you are our father; you must not walk," and the
ten Kō-yē-mē-shi accompanied him, carrying him on their backs,
relieving each other when fatigued. The Käk-lō visited the
āh-shi-wi nine days in advance of the Sä-lä-mō-bī-ya and
Kō-lō-oo-wĭt-si, instructing the people regarding the Kōk-kō, how
they must represent them in the future and hold their ceremonials,
and telling them that the boys must be made members of the Kōk-kō,
and that this particular ceremony must occur but once in four years.
He also gave to the people the history of himself, how the duck had
befriended him and led him to the home of his people.




BIRTH CUSTOMS.


Having now briefly sketched the mythology relating to the ceremonials
to be described, I invite your attention to the main subject of the
present paper: the Religious Life of the Zuñi Child.

First we will notice the birth customs.

Zuñi child life may be divided into two parts. One I will call the