File:Indians of the Southwest (1903) (14764880122).jpg

Identifier: indiansofsouthwe00dors (find matches)
Title: Indians of the Southwest
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Dorsey, George A. (George Amos), 1868-1931 Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Subjects: Indians of North America
Publisher: (Chicago) Passenger department, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway system
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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hishands he carries a large sun symbol supported on the end of awooden shaft. During the singing by the priests seated aroundthe altar, this Star god dances with an exceedingly rapid move-ment from one side to the other, twirling the sun symbol rapidlyin front, always keeping time with his body and arms. Thisseems to represent the climax of the ceremony, which not onlycelebrates the winter solstice, but which has as its special objectthe compulsion of the sun to desist in its southern flight. Dur-ing the performance of the Star god, the War god stands by hisside and asperges him with holy water from the medicine bowl. On the eighth day two Mastop Katcinas appear at the kiva,where they perform a number of curious antics, and on theninth day occurs the dancein the plaza. The dance isperformed by men wearingmasks repesenting theQoqokolum Katcinas. During January are heldwinter performances of allsummer ceremonies. Theseare naturally abbreviated,although, as a rule, theyoccupy nine days.
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The Walpi Lagan Altar. Powamu Ceremony This great nine-days ceremony, preceded by the Powalawu,is the most complicated and instructive in the Hopi ceremonialcalendar year. Compared with the succession of startlingpageants and spectacular performances then enacted, the widelyheralded snake dance is of secondary importance. In no partof the world could one see in nine days such a wealth of cere-mony, such a pantheon of gods represented by men masked andotherwise appropriately costumed, such elaborate altars andbeautiful sand mosaics, or speeches and songs so archaic andancient. The preliminary one-day ceremony of Powalawu is held latein January. A beautiful sand picture, representing the sun asits central feature, is erected on the floor of the kiva. Amongthe objects scattered around may be mentioned a corn huskcontaining sacred meal and a dead mouse, which is depositedon an ant hill as a prayer that the ants satiate themselves onthe mouse and forbear to molest the crops. On the final a

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