k 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 the children when they discovered their own people and not gods
afforded much amusement to the spectators. The masks were laid upon a
blanket and the girls and boys were commanded to look upon them.
Hostjoboard placed her mask upon the face of each boy and girl and woman
in the line, beginning at the north end of the line, giving a hoot each
time the mask was placed upon anyone. Great care was taken that the mask
should be so arranged upon the face that the eyes might look directly
through the eyeholes, for should any blunder occur the sight of at least
one eye would be lost. It is scarcely on before it is r