Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/90

 S 2 Journal of A merican Folk-Lore.

It will be noted that these dates are a month later than that on which the Lalakonti was performed at Walpi in 1891. This would seem to indicate that its place in the ceremonial year is in October rather than in September, as at Walpi. I think, however, there were special reasons for its tardy performance in 1898, and that its regu- lar presentation should be in the September moon. For an account of the secret rites connected with the Lalakonti I must, for the present, refer the reader to my article on the Walpi performance, having never studied any other ; but there is every possibility that the rites, number of days, and ceremonial events in the kivas vary in different pueblos, although there is a marked similarity in the public exhibitions so far as known.

Although the primary aim of this article is to describe the public basket dances, I have introduced a sketch of one of the simplest altars of the Lalakonti, or that used in the secret rites at Cipaulovi.

PUBLIC LALAKONTI AT WALPI.

The public exhibition of the Walpi Lalakonti has been elsewhere described, but in order to make it more convenient for the reader to compare with those of the Middle Mesa and Oraibi I have intro- duced this description with a few addenda. The public exhibition occurs on the last or ninth day of the festival, and was repeated at intervals during the day from sunrise to sunset. The successive exhibitions closely resembled each other, the number of performers increasing in the late afternoon performances.

With the exception of one man, those taking part were women, who may be considered under two groups, the basket bearers or chorus, and the basket throwers or Lakone manas. 1 The only man participant is a priest called the Lakone taka.

The basket bearers were numerous, consisting of women of all ages, — married women, maids, and young girls. Each wore a small feather on her head, and the maids had their hair done up in two characteristic whorls above the ears. All were clothed in white blankets with red borders, and wore necklaces, ear pendants, and other ornaments. The four chief priestesses led the procession, the girls closing the line as it enter the plaza. Each woman, adult nr girl, carried a flat basket which she held vertically in both hands by the rim, so that the concave side was outermost. After marching into the plaza, a circle was formed by the women, and all sang in chorus a song, parts of which were not audible. As the song con- tinue! tli'' baskets were slowly raised, first to one breast, then to the other, and then brought slowly downward to the level of the hips, in cadence with the* songs. At the same time the body was slightly

1 Lakone maids.

�� �