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Show -37- ancient custom. But when I asked Mr. Trotter about this, he said Siatiwa was trying, after all, to slip something over from the Catholic side. This is a Catholic ceremony, not a realy Zuni ceremony. The doll is a saint. It would be impossible to have'such a ceremony on that occasion-the "protestant" Zunis would not participate, so Mr. Trotter believes. Conversation with Ernest Hisiwa, Komosona (Head of the Masked Dancers)• Interpreter, Conrad. Conrad and I now continued a little distance into the country, to find the Komosona, who was at his ranch on the Stf John's road. Ernest is his father's successor, as Komosona. His father is still living but has asked Ernest to be his deputy, the active head of the Masked Dancers. Ernest belongs to the Catholic faction. Ernest belongs to the Parrot Clan, the largest Zuni clan. But he has had to take the duties of his father's clan, at his request, that is, in ceremonial concerns. The present dance is carried on by the Deer and the Badger Clans. Ernest speak3 English fairly well-was once an interpreter. He is middle aged and matter of fact-not the usual type of religious Zuni. I felt that he had assumed his father's duties more because he must than because he would. Nevertheless he is convinced that during his father's life, he must, if asked, "live his father's life." Ernest has just assumed these duties (this was observable when he was leading the dancers, for he made certain mistakes and had to be corrected.) He led the group to the Sacred Lake, and had certain comments to make. Ernest: "The lake is as dry as this floor (we were sitting in the |
