must personally take the vows as soon as he is old enough.




VOLUNTARY INITIATION INTO THE KŌK-KŌ.


After the first initiation of a boy into this order, he is left to
decide for himself when he will assume the vows made for him by his
sponsors, though the father and the godfather do not fail to impress
upon the boy the importance of the second initiation, which occurs at
an annual ceremonial; and when the boy has declared his determination
to enter the order, if the Kōk-kō upon seeing him deem him too
young, he is ordered to return to his home and wait awhile till his
heart has become more wise. For this ceremonial the godparents and
the boys assemble in the Kiva of the North. Each boy in turn takes his
position to receive his whipping, which is necessary for initiation.
The godfather, standing, bends his right knee, which the boy clasps,
bowing his head low. The godfather holds the two ends of the
blanket and buckskin tightly around the boy, while each of the four
Sai-ā-hli-ā in turn give him four strokes across the back with a
bunch of the yucca blades. Two of the Kō-yē-mē-shi stand by and
count the strokes; the others are in the plaza outside, indulging in
their primitive games, which excite much merriment among the large
assemblage of people. After each boy has received the chastisement
and all are again seated, the four Sai-ā-hli-ā pass in turn to each
boy. Each one taking off his mask, places it over the head of the boy,
handing him his Spanish bayonets. The boy strikes the Kōk-kō once
across each arm and once across each ankle. The Kōk-kō does not