Page 147 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OP HOPILAND 139
for increase of flocks, corn, peaches, and all good
things spiritual and temporal and the people feast
and are happy.
In February comes a ceremony called Powamu with
its introductory ceremony called Powalawu. Some ex
pectancy of the coming activities in the fields is in the
air and hence, as the name indicates, the ceremony re
lates to getting ready, preparing the fields, etc. One
of the chief features is the sprouting of beans in the
kivas and the distribution of the sprouts to various
persons. Another is the initiation of youthful candi
dates, accompanied by severe flogging with yucca
switches at the hands of ferocious Kachinaa. The cere
mony lasts nine days and is presided over by the chief
of the Powamu fraternity assisted by the Kachina
chief. In the kivas various rites are carried on and
altars of bright-colored sand are made. The most in
teresting event is the recital of the myth of the Po
wamu on which the ceremony is based. This account
is given by a costumed priest who represents the
Kachina Muyingwa, the god of germs, and relates to
the wanderings of certain clans and their arrival in
Tusayan.
On the ninth and last day bands of different Kachi-
nas roam the village, some furnishing amusement to
tho people and others bringing terror to naughty chil
dren, while still others go about distributing bean
sprouts or on various errands. With this ceremony