Page 169 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND 161

rying a basket plaque, again forms in the plaza and
begins singing in chorus. The baskets are held in the
two hands with concave side to the front, and as the
song continues the women sway their bodies and raise
the baskets slowly, first to one breast, then to the
other, and finally bring them downward to a line with
the hips. In a short time two gorgeously decorated
maidens, wearing ceremonial blankets and having
bundles on their backs, advance within the circle.
All interest is centered in them as they untie their
bundles and stand for a moment at opposite sides of
the circle, holding up in their hands a basket, and
then crossing back and forth and exchanging places.
All at once they throw their baskets high in the air
and into the crowd of young men. Then begins a
titanic struggle that would put a football melee in the
shade. Fiercely they wrestle, till out of the squirm
ing, perspiring, now ragged mass emerges the lucky
young man with a much damaged basket for his prize.
Sometimes these struggles last a long time, but there
is no slugging and no blood is spilt, and there is a
great deal of jollity. This closes the Lalakonti cere
mony and the celebrants return to their homes to
take up their ordinary avocations. Supela is one of
the two men who aid the women in the Lalakonti
ceremony, and he also has an important place in the
Mamzrauti ceremony, described below, of which his
wife, Salako, is the chief priestess.
The Marazrauti ceremony, held at the October moon,