The Religious Life of the Zuñi Child | Page 4

the youth rode off. I signaled
to the old man to accompany us to the lake. "No, no; I would only die,
and you must not go or you will die." "No," said I, "we will not die if
our hearts are good, and if you will not go it is because your heart is not
good and you are afraid."
We found the lake so surrounded by marshes that we could not get
within an eighth of a mile of the waters. One of our party attempted to
reach it on foot, but could get very little nearer. We made a circuit of
the lake along the slightly elevated ground and could distinctly see it.
On completing the circle a striking picture met our eyes. Boldly
outlined by the setting sun stood the old man, his hair blown by the
evening breeze, for he had bared his head of the usual kerchief worn

around it, and, with his hand holding the sacred meal extended toward
the glorious sunset, he stood repeating a prayer. We halted, and he
continued his prayer, wholly unconscious of our presence; as he turned
we surprised him. I extended my hand and said, "Now I am happy, for
you are again brave and strong." "Yes," said he, "my heart is glad. I
have looked into the waters of my departed people. I am alive, but I
may die; if I die it is well; my heart is glad." From that moment the
gloom was gone and he was bright and happy. We could not induce the
old man to ascend the mountain of the K[=o]k-k[=o] with us, as none
go there except certain priests; but the lake is visited by those who are
designated by these priests.
Several days were consumed by us in exploring this immediate vicinity.
On breaking camp, our old Indian guide seemed determined to tarry
behind. I remained with him. As the party rode off he took a large
quantity of food which he had carefully stored away behind a tree--he
having observed an almost absolute fast in order to make a large
offering to the spirits of the departed--and heaped this food upon the
embers of the camp fire, by the side of which he stood for a long time,
supplicating in a most solemn manner the spirits of the departed to
receive his offering.
Certain men are selected, who, with bodies nude save the loin skirt and
with bare feet, walk from Zuñi to the lake, a distance of 45 miles,
exposed to the scorching rays of the summer sun, to deposit plume
sticks and pray for rain. If the hearts of those sent be pure and good, the
clouds will gather and rain will fall, but if evil be in their hearts no rain
will fall during the journey and they return with parched lips and
blistered skin. The K[=o]k-k[=o] repeat the prayers for rain with their
intercessions to the Yä-t[=o]-tka, the Sun, and by them the plume sticks
are sent to the same great god. So constantly are the lesser gods
employed in offering plumes to the great god that at night the sacred
road (the Galaxy) can be seen filled with feathers, though by day they
are invisible. They believe that the soul or essence of the plumes travels
over this road, just as the soul from the body travels from Zuñi to the
spirit lake, and in their offerings of food the food itself is not received
by the gods, but the spiritual essence of the food.

One of the most important characters in Zuñi mythology, the Käk-l[=o],
finding himself alone in the far Northwest, saw many roads, but could
not tell which one led to his people, and he wept bitterly. The tear
marks are still to be seen on the Käk-l[=o]'s face. A duck, hearing some
one's cries, appeared and inquired the cause of the trouble. "I wish to go
to my people, but the roads are many, and I do not know the right one."
The sagacious duck replied, "I know all roads, and I will lead you to
your people." Having led the Käk-l[=o] to the spirit lake, he said, "Here
is the home of the K[=o]k-k[=o]; I will guide you to the kiva and open
for you the door." After entering the kiva the Käk-l[=o] viewed all
those assembled and said, "Let me see; are all my people here? No; the
K[=o]-l[=o]-oo-w[)i]t-si (plumed serpent) is not here; he must come,"
and two of the K[=o]k-k[=o] (the Soot-[=i]ke) were dispatched for him.
This curious creature is the mythical plumed serpent whose home is in
a hot spring not distant from the village of Tk[=a]p-qu[=e]-n[=a], and
at all times his voice is to be heard in the depths of this boiling water.
In the