Sio Humis
(Plate V)
The picture[1] representing a being called the Sio Humis or the Zuñi Humis has on the head a representation of a tablet with the upper border cut into three semicircles, symbols of rain clouds. The white figures painted on this tablet represent sprouting squash seeds, and the yellow disks sunflowers. The curved bands over the forehead are symbols of the rainbow. The face is divided by vertical bands into two fields of different colors, in which are representations of eyes and symbolic figures of sprouting gourds.
The figure has a rattle in the left hand and a sprig of pine in the right, and a turtle shell is tied to the right leg.
The supernatural here depicted was, according to legends, introduced from Zuñi during the present generation by a man now living in Hano, who has a large number of helmets bearing the above-described designs.
The meaning of the name Humis is doubtful. It is sometimes derived from Jemez, the name of an Eastern pueblo, and sometimes from humita, corn. The former derivation would appear more reasonable.
Sio Humis Taamû[2]
(Plate V)
The picture gives a fair representation of the uncle of Sio Humis as personated in one of the dances of Pamürti. The rounded helmet has a single apical gourd horn, painted black and white at its junction with the helmet. On each side of the head is a symbolic squash blossom, made of a wooden cylinder with radiating sticks, connected by yarn. A broad black band extends horizontally across the eyes, below which is an elongated snout. The neck has a collar of pine twigs, and to the back of the head are tied black and variegated feathers.
The figure has in its hands a yucca whip. The personator parades before the line of dancers with an ambling step, hooting as he goes.
Sio Avatc Hoya
(Plate V)
Men personating Sio Avatc hoya accompany those representing Sio Humis in the Pamürti. They are dressed as women and perform the same part as the katcina maids in some other dances; that is, they accompanied the songs with a rasping noise of sheep scapulæ scraped over a notched stick.
