The age-herald., 1900-12-02
THE QUEER DOLLS
 OF INDIAN CHILDREN

sen for worship.
 While the priests are by themselves in the kiva celebrating the rites of the gods, the body of men who are to perform the public dance retire into another kiva to prepare the paraphernalia which they must wear on the day of their appearance. If It is the lightning katcina for instance, that has been selected for this occasion, each man is dressed to represent him and no other divinity. In 1890, when the members of the Hemenway expedition observed the farewell dance, the antelope l ltcina had been chosen The forty dancers-more or less-who were to take part retired into the kiva allotted them, and occupied several days in painting the masks, kits and in- struments which they were to wear or car ry, with the symbols proper to the antelooe god. There were to be thirty-three men and six women represented, but all the performers were men. Each fashioned for himself a helmet of such odd pieces Of leather as he could procure, or more often refurbished an old one used before. The helmet amounted to no more than a rough mask in the form of a cylinder, which should rest upon his shoulders so as to completely hide his neck and head. couple of slits were cut for his eyes, and another for his mouth and the whole was appropriately decorated with symbolical bands and spots of paint in honor of the antelope katcina. In addition, the dancer got Teduy d lOI5 hill oi SOtioh NeiiNo oSi OAb if he were to be woman, blanket
 The musical instruments required by each persons consisted of a couple of rattles- one made of a dyed gour containing small stones and fastened to handle; the otheF an arrangement made of a tortoise shell, to be tied to the calf of the left leg in such way that it would rattle in the dance. s4@ Besides making ready these parapherna- lia, the performers in this farewell katcina must make a number of toys for the chil- dren miniature bows and arrows for the boys, roasted ears of corn and cakes or meal, and, above all, the dolls for the little girls.
 Some of the dolls are so elaborate that 1t is impossible for a man to make one of them in the few days that he spends in re- tirement in the kiva As matter Of fact, therefore, he has been at work on his doll, very likely, for some time before he finally goes into the kiva and if he only puts the finishing touches on his work while there' it is thought that he has satisfied all re- ligious requirements.
 On the morning of the dance the perform CTS issue from their kiva and.go to recess in the rock called the house Of the kat cinas" not far from the town. From this rock-room, which lies to the west, the dan cers enter the village at daybreak, each bearing in his left hand doll, or 1t may be- two dolls, and a sprig of spruce, typl- flying the mountains, to which the katc1nae are to return; and in his right his gourd rattle. During the morning they dance from time to time without attracting any special attention from the villagers. In the afternoon however, the people, dressed in their best clothes, gather to watch the dan cers, who appear bearing this time, not only the dolls, but the roasting ears, the bows and arrows and the other things meant for the children. There Is no special ceremony connected with the presentation. The chill dren sit with their elders, and the bows and cakes and dolls are handed to them without any formality.
 As has been said, the dolls are whittled out of the root of the cottonwood, which Is chosen for several reasons One is that there is very little but cottonwood growing near the Moqui. Another is that it is sacred tree, since it grows along the water courses, the most precious possession of the Moqu Moreover, it Is very light, and so soft that it cuts with the greatest ease.