Page 155 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND 147

about July 20th and lasts nine days, like the four
great ceremonies between August and November, and
like them also having a regular secret ritual in the
kivas. Instead, however, of one day or so of public
ceremony, the Niman furnishes many surprises and
sallyings forth to the amusement of the populace.
Delegates hurry on very long journeys for sacred
water, pine boughs, and other essentials for the use of
the priests. Sad indeed is the state of the Hopi that
fate detains, and strong must be circumstances that
prevent his reunion with his people at this great fes
tival.
The Niman public dances which follow the eight
days of kiva rites are imposing spectacles. The first
takes place before sunrise and the second in the after
noon. There are many kachinas in rich costumes,
wearing strange helmets and adorned in many striking
ways. They carry planting sticks, hoes, and other
emblematic paraphernalia. A number are dressed as
female kachinas. These furnished an accompaniment
to the song by rasping sheep's scapulae over notched
sticks placed on wooden sounding boxes. The male
and female dancers stand in two lines and posture to
the music, and the former turn around repeatedly dur
ing the dance. The children especially enjoy the
dance, because the kachinas have brought great loads
of corn, beans, and melons, and baskets of peaches,
which are gifts for the young folks, and dolls, bows,
and arrows are also given them. The dance is repeated