Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-12-22

! nome, leaving M"sluNg- -ce n tree llclu-
Mashong-cc then let down her hair,
which had previously been fixed in the
customary two large whors which repre-
sent the squash blossom, am emblem of
purity and maidenhood to the Hopis.
The grinding or hetrothul ceremony
continued until uightfall. when a small
fire was made of cobs over which an
earthcn OLA was placed. When this was
sufficiently heated the meal was stirred
about in it by means If round wicker
| heater to keep it from burning Then
the feast cakes were made and refresh
mcut7 were served. The festival con-
tinucd three days amid much lnerriment
the guests coming'aud going at viii, and
always partaldng of rcfrcshmcnt. which
was kept in waiting
When the ceremony was completed
Mashongc badc farewell to ncr mother
in-Iaw very early in the morning and re
/ turned to her old home. followed in
about two hours by Gonorilicz, as was
the custom.
TNo week, later Aaxie died Of brol-
en- heart; her name viii never again be
mentioned among her people.
On the second maming after the he
rothd ceremony, GououIIicz and Ma
-hong-cc travelled to a hillside. carrying
pinch OF ground corn i'm their hands
Facing the ,m they awaited its rising.
and when IL appeared they scattered
their corn and pro-tatei themselves in
prayer.
When Il child is born to them they
will start housekeeping in home of
their own. Until then the wife belongs
10 her mother; she owes the mother
work aud Obedience as before her mar
rilgc. The husband remains around as
he did during his comtship and malsct
himself generally useful.
Tho christening ceremony is solemn
one. For nine days the mother and child
are kept in the underground ceremonial
. chamber, where no ray of sunshine is
permitted to penetrate. Beofrc dawn on
the tenth day the mother takes the lit
tie one, and accompanied by all her fe
male relatives goes to the very edge of
the prccipitCus mesa, the plain lying 600
feet below.
Before the sun appears a hIgh priest
in full regalia marches toward the wait
ing group. Priest and relatives have Sc
lected name for the little one. and Just
as the sun appears the mother raises the
baby high above her head with a shout
/ he priest calls aloud. 81 devote thee to
the God of Life" All the women shout
aloud the names they have chosen. and
the mother selects the one which pleases
her best. Thus the child is named and
taken into the tribe of Hopis.
The Hopi women stand above the wo-
men of the aboriginal. tribes. inasmuch
as they own their houses and all that
they contain. They are the heads of the
family, and all property is handed down
/ to the females. The race is entirely pure
Alliance with any other tribe or with
the white race is unknown in their his.
tory. The greatest care is taken in rear.
ING the children, and large families are
prayed for.
Every clan has its kiva, or ceremonial
chamber, where the boys are instructed
IN literature, history and legends. The
| priests of the tribe act as instructors
They have no books, neither do they
write, but they have an extensive litera.
! tuTe, which IS transmitted orally.
The costume of the women consists of
a home woven robe, made by husband or
father, and dyed in indigo. When made
it looks more like an Indian blanket than
n dress, but when the woman throws it
f., over her right shoulder. sews the two
/ sides together, leaving an opening for