he
children were all in position, Hasjelti, carrying a fawn skin containing
sacred meal, and Hostjoboard, carrying two needles of the Spanish
bayonet, stood in front of the children. The boy at the head of the line
was led out and stood facing the east. Hasjelti, with the sacred meal,
formed a cross on his breast, at the same time giving his peculiar hoot.
Hostjoboard struck him upon the breast, first with the needles held in
her right hand and then with those held in the left. Hasjelti then
turned the boy toward the right until he faced west and made a cross
with meal upon his back, when Hostjoboard struck him twice on the back
with the needles. He was again turned to face the east, when both arms
were extended and brought together. Hasjelti made a cross over the arms
and then over the knees. Each time the boy was crossed with the meal
Hostjoboard struck the spot first with the needles in the right hand and
then with those in the left, after which the boy returned to his seat.
The cross denotes the scalp knot. Most of the boys advanced quite
bravely to receive the chastisement. I noticed but one who seemed very
nervous, and with great difficulty he kept back the tears. The boys'
ceremony over, the gods approached the girls, beginning at the end of
the line next to the boys. Hasjelti marked a line of meal on each side
of the foot of the girl, when Hostjoboard, now holding two ears of
yellow corn wrapped with pinon twigs, placed them to the soles of the
girl's feet and Hasjelti drew a line of meal on each hand; after which
Hostjoboard placed the ears of corn to the palms of the hands, she
holding the corn in her palms and pressing it to the palms of the girl's
hands. Hasjelti formed a cross on the breast with the meal and
Hostjoboard pressed the two ears of corn to the breast; a cross was made
on the back and the two ears of corn pressed to the back. Hasjelti, with
his right hand, then drew a line on the girl's left shoulder, and with
his left hand a line on the girl's right shoulder, the corn being
pressed to the shoulders in the manner described. Two lines of meal were
run over the forehead back to the top of the head, and the two ears of
corn pressed to the top of head. The boys were nude but the girls were
gayly dressed in blankets, jewelry, etc. At the close of this ceremony
the representatives of the gods removed their masks and called upon the
children to raise their heads. The amazement depicted upon the faces of