M y th of the or-igzi uu o f «1 ,

8 i i je (11:19l

Sim-h clay

Fou rth d'

anc e

S i xth ("

lanc e (stand-lu g anc s )

Nifn-t'

h danc e 01: Y u c c a)

Tenth tlzm ee (hear )E leventh (lanc e (fire)O ther danc es

The great p i c t u res o f (lsil-yi dje q-agz‘

ll

F i rst p i c t u re (home .o f the serpents) a

S e o o nclp i c t u re (ya-

3'

s and c u l t ivated p lants )Th imd p

-i c tu -r-e Qlong ho cl-ie s)

Fen-nth p i étnre (great p l u me d a'rrows )S ac r ifi ces of ds i'lyfdje

O rig inaltex -Ltes and tnansla-t-ions o f songs ,

F-l'FSt Siong of th e P i-rst “

Dane“

.exrs

F irst. Song o‘f the Mo u nta in Sheep

S i x th Song; o f the Mo u nta in Sheep

l‘

ilst Song o f the Th u nder’

l elftli 86 13 0 o f the Tlm ndel

li rst Song o f th e Holy Y _o u nm Nlen

,01 Yew-mg M ien Go ds

S i x th Song o f the Ho ly Yonn " Mew .

Twel fth Song of the Holy Y-o u -ng. Men“E igh th S ong of the Yo u ng who Be c om e B

’

enrs

One o f the -AwlSongslr

‘

i‘1:st Song o f the Exp lod ing: S t i c kLast Song o f the Ex p lod ing S t i c kF i rst Day l igh t S ong .

Last Day l ig ht. Song

3 82 CoNTENrs

O r ig inaltex ts and transla t i ons of songs Cont inu ed .

O ther songs and extrac tsSong of th e Prophet to the San J u an R iverSong o f the B u i ld ing o f the Dark C i rc lePray er to Dsily i ‘NeyaniSong of the R is ing S u n Danc eInstr u c t ions g iven to the akaninili

Prayer of the Prophe t to h i s M askLast Wo rds of the P ro-phat

NOTE ON THE ORTHOGRAPH Y OF NAV AJO W'

ORDS .

The spel l ing of Navaj o w o rds in th is pap er is in ac c o rdanc e w i th the alphabe t o fthe B u reau o f E thno logyc = c h in chin ; ¢= th i n thi s ; c z th in th ink; j z z z in az u re ; q erman c h i n

machen ; shows that a vowe l i s asp i rated ; th e vowels have the c on t inen tal so u nds ;ai i s the only d iph thong , and i s l ike i i n li ne; I i s u s u al ly asp i rated ; the o ther let tershave th e o rd inary Engl ish p ronu nc ia t i on.

IL L USTRATIONS

X . M edi c ine lodge , v i ewed from the so u thM edi c ine lodge , v iewed from the east

XI II. F i re dan c eThe dark c i rc le of b ran c hes at s u nr iseF irst d ry pa int ingSeeon-d dry -pa int ing

X V I I . Third d ry pa in t ingFo u rth d ryr pa in t i ng,r

Q astc i'e'

lg-i , f rom a dry pa int ing of th e lsliwlgi -qaenl

5 1 . The gobolgfi , o r plu nled w ands , as seen f rom th e do o r o f the i ned i

c ine lodgeAk zi u -i'nfi l 'i ready fo r the j o u rney

5 3 . The g reat wo o d p ileDa

-n'

c er hold i ng u p th e great plu nred arro-W z

Dan c e r swallow ing”th e g reat plu lined ar-row

Th e wh i z z er,o r gr oan ing st i c k

Y u c c a ha-

c c a-tra

58. Sac ri fi c ials t i ck s (kecan )69 . The talking th eit

'

h-arwn (ke'

can-y al ci ‘)

THEMOUNTAIN CHANT: A NAVAJO CEREMONY.

B Y DR . WA S H INGTON M ATTH EW S,U . S . A .

I N T RODUC T ION .

1 . The ceremony o-f d s ily idje qagal, or m ou n ta i n cha n t l i t era l ly,cha n t

toward s (a p l ace ) wi th i n the mou n t ai n s— i s o n e o f a l arge n um be r pract iced by th e s ham a n s , o r m ed i c i n e m en , of th e Na vajo t r ibe . I h ave

sel ec t ed i t as th e fi rs t of those to be d escr i bed,beca u se I ha ve w i t

messed i t th e mos t frequ e n t l y , becau se i t i s t h e mos t i n t eres t i n g t o t he

C au casi a n spec ta tor , a n d beca u se i t i s t h e bes t k now n to th e wh i tes who

v i s i t and res id e i n and aro und the Navajo cou n try . I t s ch ief i n teres t t o

t h e s t ra n ge r l ies in th e v ari o u s p u bl i c performa nces of t h e la s t n igh t .Li k e o ther great r i tes of th e sh aman s

,i t h as i ts secre t ceremon i es of

m a ny days’ d u ra t i o n i n t h e m ed ic i n e l odge ; b u t», u n l i k e th e o th e rs , i t

e nds w i t h a v ar ied sh ow in th e ope n a i r,wh i ch al l are i n v i ted to w i tn ess .

Ano th er ceremo ny wh ich I have a t te n ded,a nd wh i ch the w h i tes u su al ly

cal l t h e “ Yayb i c hy Dan ce”

(Yebitc a i ) , h as a fina l p ubl i c ex h i b i t i o n

wh ic h occu p ies th e w h ol e n i gh t , bu t i t i s u n v ar i ed . Few E u ropean s

c an be fo u nd w ho h ave rema i n ed awak e la ter t ha n m idn igh t to wa t ch

i t. Such i s not th e case w i t h th e r i t e n ow to be descr i bed . Here th e

wh i te man i s ra rely th e fi rs t to l ea ve at d aw n .

2 . Th e app rop ri a ten ess of t h e nam e d silyi dje or tsilg i tc e toward s (a

plac e) w i th i n t h e mou n ta i n s— wi l l be bet t er u n de rs tood from th e my t h

than from any bri ef d escri p t i o n . Ds ily i‘ may wel l al l ud e to m ou n ta i n s

i n ge n era l o r t o t h e Car ri zo M ou n ta i n s i n par t i cu la r , t o th e p lace i n th e

mou n ta i n s (parag rap h s 9 and 3 8) w here t h e o rigi n a tor of th ese cere

monies (wh om I often find i t con ven i e n t to cal l“ proph e t ”) dwel t , or to

t he n am e of t h e p rophe t (par . or to al l th ese. com bin ed . Q a-calsi gn ifies

a sacred son g or a col l ec t i on of sacred son gs . From the m any E n gl i s h

sy n o nym s for son g I h av e selec t ed the word ch an t to t ra ns l a te qaeal.

In i t s u sua l si gn i fica t ion hym nody m ay be i ts more ex act equ i va l en t,

b u t i t i s a l es s co n v en i en t t erm th a n chan t . Th e sh aman,or m ed ici n e

man,

'

who i s m as t e r of cerem on i e s , is k n ow n as qagali or cha n ter— el

can t-ador,th e M ex i ca n s ca l l h i m . In ord e r to k eep i n m ind h is re la t i o n

sh i p to si m i l a r fu n ct ion ar i es i n o th er t r i bes I sh al l,from t i m e to t ime

,

al l u d e t o h im as th e p ri e s t,t h e shaman , or t he m ed i ci n e man, fol low i n g

5 E TH ‘25

386 THE MOUNTAIN CHANT .

t h e examp l e o f o the r a u th ors . To al l ceremo n i es of a ch a rac te r s im i l a r

to th i s the te rm (jacal is appl icabl e . I t wou l d seem from t h i s th a t th eNavaj o regard th e song as th e ch i ef pa r t of th e ceremo ny

,b u t s i n ce

th e A mer ican s , as a. ru l e,regard allI nd ian cerem on i es as m erel y d a n ces

a n d cal l t hem dan ces,I w i l l

,ou t o f d eferen ce to a n a t i o n a l p rej u d i ce ,

frequ en t l y refe r to th e ceremo n y as a dance .

Some t i m es th e col l ec t i v e r i t es and am u sem en t-s o i'

th e las t n igh t

u e spoken of as ilnasj ingo qacal, or ch a n t in the d a rk c i rc l e o f

bra n ches,from i t

,bran ch es o f a t ree ; new,

su rro u n d i n g,e n c i rc l i n g

jia , d ark ; an d go , i n . Th e name al l u des to t h e great fen ce o f p ino n

bra n ches , e rected a fte r su n set on th e l as t nigh t , t o rece i v e the gu es t s

and performers . I sh a l l o fte n refe r to th i s i n closu re a s th e corral . Som e

wh i te m en cal l t h e r i tes I d escr i be the “ co rrald an ce,

” bu t more u su al ly

they cal l th em th e hoshkawn dan ce ,” from one of th e m i n o r perform

au ces o f the last ni gh t , t h e liaclt i‘

i n o r ac t o f th e Y u c ca bacca ta,

u ri t e or d ram a wh i ch seem s to pa rt i cu l a rly exc i te t h e C au cas i a n i n teres t .

To su ch m i n o r acts th e t erm s i nca‘ and all“ are. appl i ed ; th ese may be

t ran slated da n ce,sh ow ,

ac t,o r exh i b i t i o n .

4 . Th e p u rposes o f t h e ceremon y are va r i o u s . I t s os te n s i bl e reason

fo r ex i s te n ce i s to c u re d i sea se ; bu t i t i s m ad e th e occa s ion for invok

i n g the u n seen powe rs i n beh al f o f t h e p eopl e a t large for va r i ou s p u r ~

poses,par t i cu l a rly fo r good c ro ps and a bu nda n t ra i n s . I t

‘

wo u ld ap

pea r th a t it i s a l so d es ign ed to perpe tuat e the i r re l i g i o u s sy mbol i sm .

Some of th e sh ows o f t h e l as t n igh t a re u n d o u b ted ly i n ten d ed to be

d ramat i c a n d e n t ertai n i n g a s wel l a s r el i g i o u s,wh i l e th e m e rel y soc i a l

e l eme n t o f t h e whol e affair i s obv iou s . It i s a n occas i on w h en the peo

pl e gath e r t o h a ve a jol l y t i m e . The pa t i e n t pays th e. ex pen ses and,

p robably in add iti o n to t h e favo r and h el p o f th e god s and th e p ra i se

of the p r i es t-hood,h opes to ob tain so c ia l d i s t i n ct i o n fo r h is l i be ral i ty .

5 . Th i s,l i k e o th e r grea t r i tes of th e Navaj o

,i s o f ni n e day s

’ d u ra t i o n .

S ome of th ese r i tes m ay take pl ace i n th e s u m mer ; bu t th e grea t ma

j o ri ty of them ,i n cl ud i n g t h i s d s ily i dje qaenl, may be cel ebra ted on l y

i n th e w i n ter,in th e sea son w he n th e th u nder i s s i l e n t and th e ra ttl e

s n ak es are h ibern a t i n g . YVere they to tel l o f t h ei r ch i e f gods o r rel ate

the i r my th s o f th e an c i e n t days at any o t h er t ime , d eath from lightningor snake -b i te wou ld

,they be l i e ve

,be th ei r ea rly fa t e .

6. YV h ile i n New M ex i co I some t i m es em p loyed a. very liberalm i nd ed

Navaj o,named J u an

,as a gu i d e a nd i n form an t . H e had spen t many

years amon g Amer i can s , M o rmon s , and M ex i can s,and was

,I im ag i n ed ,

almos t perfec t l y e ma nc i pa ted from h i s “ ea rl y b ias .

” He spoke bo thEng l i sh a nd Spa n i s h fa i rly . On on e o c c as ion

,d u ring the mo n th of A u

gu s t,i nthe h e igh t of th e ra i n y sea so n , I h ad h im inmy s t u dy con vers

i ng w i th h im . In an u ngu a rd ed m om e n t , o n h i s p ar t , I l ed him i n to a

d iscu ss i o n abou t the gods o f h i s peop l e , an d n e i ther o f u s h ad n o t iced

a h eavy s torm com i n g o ve r t h e c rest o f t h e Z uni M o u n ta i n s,c l ose by .

We we re j u s t ta l k i n g o f E stst’

tnatlehi , t h e goddess o f the wes t , w hen

aim -m s } M YTH OF DS IL YIDJE Q AQ AL . 887

th-e h ou se was sh ake n by a terr i fic pea l of th u nder . He rose a t on ce

pa l e and ev id e n t l y ag i ta ted , tillChrist

mas ; th ey are a n gry ,” he h u rr i e d away . I h a ve see n ma ny su ch e v i

d euc es of th e d eep i n fl uen ce o f th i s s u pers t i t i o n on th em .

7 . Wh e n th e ma n (or th e wom an ) who g i ves th e e n terta i n me n t c o n ~

el udes h e i s s i ck and t h a t h e c an a fford to cal l a sh a man,i t i s not t h e

l a t te r who d ec i des wh a t partitailar r i tes a re bes t su i t ed t o c u re t h e

m al ady . I t i s th e pa t i e n t and h i s fr ie nd s who d e term i n e t h i s . The n

th ey sen d for a m a n wh o is k now n t o be sk i l l ed i n perform i ng the

des i red r i tes,an d i t i s h i s p ro v i n c e m erely to do th e work req u i red o f

h i m .

8 . Befo re beg i n n i n g to descr i be th e ceremo n i es i t w i l l be wel l to rel a t e

th e my th accou n t i n g for t he i r o rig i n .

M Y T H OF TH E O R IG IN OF DS IL YIDJE Q A cAL .

9 . M an y years ago,in the n e igh borh ood o f I) sily i

‘-

qojoni , in th e Car

r i z o M ou n ta i ns,d wel t a fam i ly of s i x : th e fa th er

,t h e mo th er

,two so n s

,

a n d two daugh ters . They d id not l i v e allth e t ime‘ i n o n e l ocal i ty,bu t

moved from p lace to p lace in the ne igh borho od . Th e you ng men h u n ted

rabb it s and wood ra ts , for i t was on s u ch smal l a n ima l s th a t th ey al l s u b

s i s ted . Th e gi r ls spe n t th e i r t im e gath eri n g va ri o u s w i l d ed i bl e seeds .

10. After a t i m e they wen t. to a plac e call ed Tsc‘-b ica

‘

i (t h e W’

i n gs o f

t h e Rock or “r

i n ged Rock ) , wh ich l i es to th e eas t o f th e Ca rr i z o M ou n t

ai n s,o n a p la i n . Wh en th ey fi rs t en cam ped th ere was n o wa ter i n th e

v i c i n i ty an d the e lde r b ro the r we n t ou t to see i f h e co u l d fi n d some .

He Obser ved from th e camp a l i t t l e s andy h i l l ock,covered w i th some

v ege ta t io n , a n d be de term i n ed to see wh a t sor t o f p lan ts g rew t he re .

Arri ved th ere , he n o t i ced a spot w he re th e gro u n d was mo i s t . He go t

h i s d i ggi n g s t i ck an d p roceed ed to m ak e a h ol e i n t h e grou nd . He h ad

n o t d ug l on g wh e n th e wa ter su dd en l y b u rs t fo rt h i n grea t abu ndan ce

and soo n fi l l ed th e excav a t i o n h e h ad m ad e . l—Ie has te n ed back to th e

cam p a n d an no u n ced h i s s u ccess . Wh e n th ey l e ft t h e Ca rr izo M ou n ta i n s i t was th e i r i n ten t i o n to go to (i

f

epentsa, the La P l a ta M ou n ta i n s , t o

h u n t for food,and th e i r h al t a t Tse‘- bica.

'

i was des ign ed t o be te mpo

rary onl y ; bu t , now t h a t t h ey h ad fo u n d abu nda nce of wa ter , th e eld e r

bro th er cou n seled th em no t to h as ten on,bu t to rema i n wh ere t h ey were

for a wh i l e . Th e sp ri n g h e d eve l oped s t i l l ex i s t s a n d i s k n own to the.

Navaj o as gob inakis, o r th e On e -Eyed Wa ter .

1 1 . Th e spri n g was som e d i s ta n ce from th e camp , and th ey h ad b u t

one w i cke r wa ter bo t t l e ; so th e woman , to l igh te n h er l abor , proposed

tha t they sh ou l d m ove th e i r good s to th e v i c i n i ty Of th e sp r i n g , as i t

was h er task to d raw t h e wa ter . Bu t th e Old man cou n sel ed tha t th eysho u ld rema in wh e re th ey were , as m a ter ia l s for bu i l d i n g were c l ose a t

ha n d a n d i t was h i s d u ty to erec t th e b u t. Th ey a rgued l ong abou t i t ;bu t a t l e n g th t he woman pre va i l ed

,and th ey carr i ed allth e i r p rope r ty

3 88 T u n M OUNTA I N CHANT .

down close to the spr i ng . Th e e ld er so n su gges ted t h a t i t wou ld be

wel l to d ig i n to th e soft sandy so i l , in order t o h a ve a good sh e l ter ; so

t h e old man se lec te d a sandy h i l l ock , o vergrow n w i th grease wood , a n d

excava ted i t n ea r on e edge , d i gg i n g s t ra igh t down , so as to h a ve a wal l

o n o n e s id e .

1 2 .Th ey had a s ton e as -h ead

,wi t h a groo ve i n i t . Arou nd t h i s th ey

ben t a fl ex ibl e twi g o f oak and t i ed i t w i t h th e fibers of the yu cca,a n d

th u s th ey made a ha nd l e . The fi rs t d ay a fter th e sp ri n g was fou nd t h e

you n g men wen t o u t and ch opped a l l d ay,an d in th e even i n g b rou gh t

h om e fou r p ol es,and wh i l e th ey we re gon e th e o l d m an dug i n th e h i l l

ock . Th e nex t d ay th e you n g m e n ch opped a l l day , a n d a t n igh t re

t u rn ed w i th fou r m ore poles,w h i l e th e i r fa th e r con t i n u ed h i s d igg i n g .

They worked th u s fo r fou r d ays , and th e l odge was fi n i sh ed . They m ad e

m a ts o f h ay to lie o n and a mat of t h e same m a ter i al to h an g i n th e

doorway . They mad e i t Ms of fi n e ceda r bark w i th w h i ch to cove r t hem

sel ves i a bed , for i n th ose d ays th e Na vaj o d id n o t weav e bl an k e ts su ch

a s th ey m ak e new. The sol es of t h e i r m occa s i n s w ere mad e of h ay a n d

the u ppers of yu cca fibers . Th e you n g men were obl iged to go h u n ti n ge ve ry d ay ; i t was on l y w i th great l abo r t h ey cou l d k eep th e h ou se

s uppl ied w i t h m ea t ; fo r, as has been sa id , they l i ved m os t ly o n smal l

a n imal s,su ch as cou l d be cau gh t i n fal l traps . Th ese t ra ps th ey se t a t

n igh t n ea r t he bu rrows, an d t hey sl ep t. c l o se to th e t rap s w h en th e lat

t er were se t fa r from hom e . They h u n t ed th u s fo r fou r d ays aft-er th e

h ou se was fi n i s h ed,wh i l e th e i r s i s ters scou red al l t h e cou n t ry ro u n d in

sea rch o f seeds .

1 3 . W i th allth ei r work th ey fou n d i t h ard t o m ake a l i v i n g i n t h i s

pl ace . The l an d was barre n ; e ve n ra ts a n d p ra i r i e. d ogs we re scarce ,and t h e seed bea ri n g pl an ts were few . A t th e en d of the fou r t h d ay

t hey h eld a. con sul ta t i o n,and t h e o l d ma n s a i d th ey wou l d do be t ter to

m ove on to th e Sa n Ju a n R i ve r,wh ere food w as m ore abu nd an t

,and

th ey cou ld t rap and ga th e r seeds as th ey t rav el ed . Th ey d e term i n ed

to l e ave,and n ex t morn i n g brok e camp . They j o u rneyed on ti llt h ey

rea ch ed th e ban k s o f th e San Jua n . Here they fou n d abu nd an ce o f

tc iltc in (fru i t of Rims awmzati c a) a n d of g rass seed s , a n d th ey e n ca m pedbes id e th e r i ver a t n igh t .

1 4 . Nex t d ay t hey t ravel ed u p t h e s t ream to a p lace ca l l ed Tse‘eqaka,

i nd h ere aga i n th ey h al t ed fo r the n igh t . Th i s p l ace i s n o t ed for i t s

d epos i ts of na t i v e sal t . The t rave l e rs cu t som e ou t from u nd e r a g rea t.roc k a nd fi l l ed w i th i t. the i r bags

,made o u t of th e sk i n s of th e sq u i rre l s

a n d o th er smal l an imal s wh i ch th ey h ad cap tu red . Then ce th ey fol

l owed u p th e r i ver t o Tse‘eeza,‘( took S t i ck i n g Up ) , and th en ce to

g‘

isya-

qojoni (Beau t i fu l Under th e C o t ton wood s ), wh ere th ey (rema i n ed aday a nd k i l l ed two rabb i ts . Th ese t hey sk i n n ed

,d i sembowel ed

,cru sh ed

be twee n two s to n es , bones and all, so th a t n o t h i n g m ig h t be l os t , p u t

th em i n to an earthen po t to bo i l,and wh en t h ey were s u fii c iently coo ked

t h ey added som e powde red seeds to mak e a t h i ck sou p ; o f allt h i s th ey

m u m s-s) M YTH : Tm : JOURNEY TO 3 89

made a h ea rty m eal . The Navaj o th en h ad ne i ther h orses nor a sses ;t hey cou l d n o t carry s ton e m e ta tes wh e n th ey t ravel ed

, as they d o n ow ;th ey grou n d t he i r seed s w i th s u ch s ton es a s th ey cou ld fi nd anywhere .

The o ld man adv i sed tha t t h ey sh o u l d c ross th e r i v er at th i s po i n t and

h e d i rected h is so n s to go to the r i ve r an d l ook for a ford . After a t i m e

t hey retu rn ed a nd rel a ted tha t they h ad fou n d a pl ace wh ere the s tream

was mos tl y k n ee deep , and w here , i n th e deepes t part, i t d i d no t c omeabove th e i r h ip s , and they though t allwou ld be abl e to c ross there . The

father n amed th e hou r of b ih ileohig i (wh en i t get s warm ,i . e .

,abou t 10

a. on th e morrow , as th e t i m e th ey sh ou l d ford th e San Ju an ; so

n ex t morn i n g a t th e appo i n ted t i m e they c rossed . They t ra vel ed u pt h e nor th ban k u n t i l th ey came to a sm al l a ffl uen t whose sou rce was i n

(Ilepéntsa. Here t hey left the ma i n r i ver and fol l owed the bra n ch u n t i l

n i gh t app roached,when t hey made camp .

1 5 . They m oved on n ex t day and came close to qj epéntsa, to a so i lcov ere d w i th track s of dee r and of o th er grea t a n i m al s o f the chas e .

H ere they e n cam ped , a n d on th e fol l ow i n g m orn i ng th e yo u n g men set

ou t by d iffere n t ways in t he d i rec t i o n of the mou n ta i n to h u n t ; bu t atni gh t th ey re tu rn ed emp ty ha nded . Thu s they h u n ted fou r days u ns u c

c essfu lly . E v ery day wh i l e h i s son s were gone the o l d man bu s i ed h im

se l f cu tt i n g dow n sapl ings wi t-h h i s s ton e as and bu i ld i n g a h ouse,and

th e dau gh ters gath ered seeds , wh ich con s t i tu ted th e on l y food of thefam i l y . As th e sap l i n gs w ere ab u nda n t and cl ose to th e camp

,th e ol d

ma n b u i l t h i s h ou se fas t,and h ad i t fi n i shed a t n i gh tfal l on the fou rth

day , wh e n hi s so n s re tu rn ed from the i r fru i t l ess l abors . Th ey en tered

the l odge a n d sat down . They we re weary a nd hu n gry an d th e i r bod i es

were bad ly torn by t h e th or n s and th i ck copse of th e mou n ta i n s . The i r

fa t her spok e nor a word to t h em as t h ey en tered ; he d id no t eve n l ook

at th em ; h e seem ed to he l os t i n deep con templ a t io n ; so th e you n g

men sa i d n o th i n g, a n d a l l were s i l e n t . A t l e n g t h the old man l ook ed

u p an d brok e th e s i l e n ce , say i n g ,“Agalani c ac te ini ! ” (Welcome , my

ch i l dre n . )“Aga i n yo u h a ve re t u rn ed to th e l odge w i t ho u t food . What

does i t a va i l th a t yo u go ou t e very day to h u n t when you bri n g h ome

n oth i n g “? Yo u k i l l n o th i ng beca u se yo u k n ow n o th i n g . I f yo u h ad

know ledge yo u wo u l d be s u ccessfu l . I p i ty yo u .

” The you n g me n m ade

n o repl y,bu t l ay dow n and wen t to s leep .

16. A t d aw n th e ol d man wok e t hem a nd sa id : Go ou t,my ch ild ren ,

and b u i ld a swea t -h o u se,a n d m ak e a fi re t o h ea t s tones fo r th e ba th

,

an d bu i l d th e sweat-h o use on l y a s I w i l l tell yo u . M ake th e frame of

fou r d ifi erent k i nd s o f wood . P u t kae (j u n i pe r ) i n th e ea s t , tse‘isgaz i

(mou n ta i n m ahoga ny ) i n t h e so u th , testsin

(p ifi on) in the wes t,and

awetsal(cl i ff ros e ) i n th e nor th ; j o i n them toge the r a t th e top and co ve r

t hem w i t h a n y s h rubs yo u choose . Get two sma l l fo rked s t icks,th e

l en g th of the forearm ,to pas s the ho t s ton es i n to the sweat-house

,and

o n e l o n g s t i ck to pok e t h e s ton es ou t of th e fi re , a n d l e t a l l these s t ick s

be s u ch as h av e t he i r ba rk abraded by the a n t l e rs of th e deer . Tak e

3 90 THE MOUNTA IN CHANT .

of a l l th e p l a n ts o n wh i ch th e d ee r mos t l i k e to b rowse and Sp read t h em

on the floo r o f th e swea t -h ou se , t h a t we may s it on th em .

” So th ey

b u ilt. the l odge as h e d i rec t ed , a nd l i t th e fi re a n d h ea te d t h e s ton es .

Wh i l e they we re t ran sfe rr i ng th e ho t s ton es from th e ti re to th e l odg e

the old man brough t ou t th e m a ts wh ich th ey u sed for bedd i ng , a nd

wh en allt h e s ton es h ad bee n p u t i n h e h u n g t h e m a ts , on e on top of

m o th er,o ver th e doorway . Th i s d one th e t h ree m en we n t i n to the

sud a tory an d sa t down to swea t,u tte ri n g n o t a word . fi

’

li en they h ad

persp i red su ffi ci e n t l y t h ey came o u t an d s a t dow n i n s i l e n ce u n t i l th ey

were agai n ready to subm i t th em sel ves to the h ea t . In t h i s way theysw ea ted th em sel ves fou r t imes , k eep i n g al l the t i m e a p erfec t s i l e n ce ,u n t i l t h ey em erged fo r th e l as t t i m e , wh e n th e ol d man d i rec ted h i s

da ugh te rs to d i g som e soa p roo t a n d m ak e a l a th e r . I n t h i s h e bad e

h is so n s wash the i r h a i r a n d t h e e n t i re s u rface o f th e i r bod i es wel l .Wh en th ey were th o rough l y cl ean se-d

, h e sen t t h em ou t to se t twel ve

s ton e fa l l t raps,a task wh ich occu p i ed al l th e res t o f th e day . For

each tra p th ey bu ri ed a flat s to n e w i th i ts u pper s i d e on a l e ve l w i th

t h e s u rface o f th e gro u nd ; on t h i s th ey spri n k l ed a l i t t l e ea r th, so

t h a t th e ra t wou l d su spec t n oth ing ; e ver th i s th ey p l aced a n o th e r

fl at s ton e,l e an i ng at a n a n gl e and s u pported by a s l e nde r s t ick

,t o

w h i ch were a t tach ed be rr i e s o f the a romat i c s u mac a s a ba i t . Tha t

ni gh t the yo u n g men sa t u p ve ry l ate tal k i n g w i th th ei r fa th er , an d

d id not l i e d ow n to sl eep u n t i l a fte r m id n igh t , w h e n , a s th e i r fa t h e r

d i rected,they l ay s id e by si d e w i th th e i r h eads to th e eas t .

1 7. The eld er broth er a rose early , stirred th e em bers a n d m ade a ti re ,a nd soon the you n ge r awok e . As th ey sat by th e fi re warm i n g th em

sel ves,th e eld er one said :

“ Yo u n ger bro th er , I had a d ream i n t h e

n igh t ; I d ream t I k i l l ed a b u ck d ee r .” A nd th e you n ge r repl ied“ E lde r b ro th er

,I,too

,h ad s u ch a d ream

,bu t th a t wh i ch I k i lled wa s a

d oe .

” The old man h eard th e i r w o rd s and rose , s ay i n g ,“ I t is wel l

,my

ch i l d ren ; go o u t and t ry aga i n .

” They w en t o u t to v i s i t th e i r t ra ps .

Th e fi rst on e th ey cam e to h ad fal l en ; th ey l i fted t h e s to n e and fou nd

u nder i t th e body of a ra t. So each one i n t urn , as th ey v i s i t ed i t was

fo u nd t o hav e fal l en,k i l l i n g i n i ts fal l some sm al l a n i m al ; a n d th ey re

tu rn ed to th e l odge w i th twel ve l i t t l e c rea t u res fo r th e i r food . The n

t he ol d m an tol d th em to tak e t h e i r bows a nd a rrows and h u n t for d eer .H u n t

,

” sa i d h e,to th e ea st

,th e wes t

,a n d th e n orth , i f you w i l l , b u t

d o no t pass to th e sou th of th e l od ge .

” lV i th th ese i ns t ru c t i o n s th ey

set o u t,each o n e in a d i ffe re n t d i rect i o n . Th e el de r b ro ther h ad n o t

tra vel ed fa r wh en h e saw a h erd o f d ee r a n d sh o t o n e of the n u mbe r .He sk i n n ed i t

,c u t i t u p , took the backbon e , h id e , and tal lo w , and h u ng

the res t in a t ree . As h e d rew nea r th e h ou se,h e saw h i s you n ger

bro th e r apl'

i roac hi ng from a d i ffere n t d i rec t i o n w i th th e h id e a n d m ea to f a doe . Wh e n th ey e n t ered th e h u t

,th e old man a sk ed w h i ch of

the two d ee r was sh o t fi rs t . The el de r bro th e r a n swered : I th i n k

m i n e was, for I k i l l ed i t ea rl y th i s m orn i n g , soo n a fter I l e ft th e h ou se .

”

MATTHEWS -l M YTH : THE M Y STER IE S o r THE DEER H UNT. 3 9 1

“ Wel l ,” sa i d the fa th er , “ th is sk i n of th e fi rs t. sl a i n i s m i n e ; go and

st re t ch i t an d d ry i t for m e w i th care .

” After th is th ey wen t ou t h u n t.i n g every d ay for twel ve d ays

,bu t fo rtu n e s eem ed to h ave d es erted

them th ey k i l l ed n o more game ; and a t the e n d of th a t t i m e th e i r s u pp ly o fme a t was e xh aus ted . Th e n th e old man sai d :

“ I t always tak es

fou r t r ial s be fore y o u s u cce ed . G o ou t once more,a n d i f you k i l l a

d ee r d o n o t d ress i t , bu t le av e i t as i t i s .

”

1 8. On th e fol l ow ing d ay th ey l eft th e l od ge toge th er and d id n o t

tak e separa t e t ra i l s . Soo n th ey k i l l ed a d eer,and th e you n ger b ro t h er

sa i d : W h a t sh al l w e n ow do w i th i t,s i n ce ou r fa ther has tol d u s n o t

t o sk i n i t and n o t to cu t i t u p "

2” Th e eld er b ro th e r sa i d :“ I k n ow no t.

Re t u rn to th e l odge a n d ask o u r fa th er w ha t w e m u s t do .

” Then the

yo u n ger bro th er re tu rn ed to h i s fa th er an d th e l at ter i n s t ru c ted h i m

th u s : O u t the sk i n around th e neck ; th en ca refully tak e th e. sk i n from

th e h ead , so as to remove th e h orn s , ea rs , and a l l o th er par t s , w i t hou t

t ear i n g th e sk in a nywh ere . Lea ve s u ch a n amou n t. of flesh w i th then ose a n d l i p s th a t t h ey w i l l not sh r i v e l a n d l ose th e i r sh ap e wh en th eyd ry . Then tak e th e sk in from t h e body , w h i ch sk i n w i l l agai n be m i n e

One of yo u m u s t t ak e o u t t h e pl u ck a nd ca rry that i n th e h i d e to m e ;th e oth er w il l b r i n g th e sk i n o f th e h ead and th e m ea t. Le t h i m who

bea rs th e p l u ck com e i n ad va n ce , and s top not ti l l h e com es d i rec t l y t o

m e,an d h e m us t h and i t to menn d to n o o n e el se .

” Th e you n ger bro th er

wen t back an d tol d a l l th i s t o th e elder . Th ey d ressed the d eer as th ey

were b'i dden ; th e yo u n ger _p u t t h e p l u ck i n t h e sk i n a n d we n t i n ad

v a n ce,an d the e ld er fo l low ed w i th th e ven i so n and th e sk i n of th e h ead .

XV hen th ey rea ch ed the h ogan , th e fathe r sa i d : Where i s the atc a i ? ”

(pl uck ) a n d th e younger sa id :“ It i s in th e sk i n .

” “ Take i t'

o u t

sai d th e ol d man,a n d h ang i t o n yo nder mo u n ta i n mahogany .

” Th e

you n g man d id as h e was h i d den. Th e fa th er ad van ced w i th h i s bow

an d a rrow .an d h an ded th em to t h e e ld er bro th er,who placed th e arrow

on the s tr i ng an d h el d th e how. Th e ol d man p u t h i s h a n d s on t0p of

th ose o f h i s son and toge th er th ey d rew t h e. how. Th e form e r took

carefu l a i m a t the p l u ck and l e t t h e arrow fly . It s t ru ck th e obj ec t

a nd p ene t rat ed bo t-h h ea r t a n d l u n gs so far th a t th e po i n t pro t ruded on

th e o ppos i t e s i d e . Then th e ol d m an to ld h is son to se i z e th e arrow by

th e po i n t a n d d raw i t compl e te ly th rou gh,wh i ch was don e . Nex t h e

m ad e his so n stan d cl os e to the pl u ck , l ook i n g towa rd s i t, and wh i l e h i s

son was i n th is po s i t i o n h e b l ew on h im Ill t h e d i rect i o n of th e p l u ck .

“ New,

” sa i d t h e fa th e r,“ when eve r yo u w ant to k i l l a b u ck , e ve n i f

there i s n e i th er tra c k n o r s i g n o f d eer i n s igh t, you h ave onl y to shoo ti n to the t

'

se‘isgaz

'

i (m o u n ta i n m ah ogany , Cerc o carp u gvp rrfr ra/bl

fi i ts ) and yo uw i l l find a dead d eer w h ere yo u r a rrow s t r ik es ; w h i l e i f

~

you w i sh to k i l l

a fem al e d e e r yo u w i l l s h oo t you r arrow i n to th e awetsal(c l iff rose ,Cu zco -

u m mem’

c ana. ) and yo u w i l l fi n d a doe t here .

” “T

h e n a l l th i s was

don e th ey prepared the sk i n o f t h e h ead,u n der th e o l d m an ’s d i rec t io n s .

To ke ep th e sk i n o f t h e n eck ope n th ey pu t i n to i t a wood e n h oop .

3 95) THE M OUNTA IN CHANT .

a-J

They se wed up t h e mou th,l eft th e eyeh ol e s op e n , s tu ffed th e sk i n w i th

hay ,a nd h u n g i t i n a t ree to d ry

,wh ere i t wou l d n o t ge t smoky o r d u s ty .

They cu t pla ces in th e n eck th rough wh i ch th e h u n ter m i gh t see. The

sk i n of t he doe wh ich th e you n ge r bro th er h ad k i l l ed som e t i m e before ,and w h i ch had bee n tan n ed in th e m ea n t i m e , th ey p a i n ted red and gray ,t o mak e i t l ook l i k e th e sk i n o f a n a n tel ope . Th ey p rep ared two shor t

s t icks , abou t th e l en g th o f th e fo rea rm ; th ese we re to en abl e th e h u n te r

to mo ve w i t h eas e an d h ol d h is h ea d a t th e p roper h ei gh t whe n h e crep t

i n d isgu i se on the deer . Du ri n g th e n ex t fou r d ays n o work w as do n e,

ex cep t th a t th e eld er bro th er p rac t i ced i n i m i ta t i n g th e wa l k of th e

d ee r.

1 9 .F rom th e camp where th ese th i n gs h appe n ed th ey m oved to a

pla ce ca l l ed Tse‘- l aka‘

i - ia‘(Wh i te S tan d i n g Rock ). Before th ey wen t to

h u n t o r ga th er seed s , th e o l d man des i red tha t th ey sh ou l d allh el p to

bu i l d th e h ogan (b u t) ; so a l l wen t to work toge the r, men a n d wom en ,a n d th e h ogan wa s comp l e t ed , i n s i d e a n d ou ts id e , i n fou r days .

20. Th e morn i n g fol l ow i n g th e com pl e t i o n of t h e h ogan , th e fa th er

sent'

the you n g men o u t aga i n , d i rec t i n g them ,a s before , not t o go to

th e sou th . They wen t o ff toge th er,a n d soo n esp i ed a h erd o f dee r .

The eld er bro th e r p u t o n th e d eer m ask an d bega n to i m i ta te th e m o

t i o n s o f th e an i m al,ask i n g his you n ger b rother w h a t h e thou gh t of th e

m i m i cry . Wh e n th e l a t te r gav e h is approval , th e el d er b ro th e r sa id ,“ S tea l ro u n d to the o th er s id e of th e h erd and wh e n th ey see yo u th ey

wi l l com e i n my d i rec t i o n .

” He wa i ted,a n d w h e n h e saw th a t h i s

b ro th er had go t to th e o th er s id e o f th e h erd , h e sel ec ted a b i g fa t b u c k

a s h i s Speci a l obj ect,and» bega n to m ove tow ards h i m

,wal k i n g a n d

p awi ng th e gro u n d l ik e a deer,a n d r ubb i n g h i s an t l e rs agai n s t th e

t rees . Soo n th e bu ck began to approach th e h u n te r,bu t t h e l a t te r k ep t

h i s h ead con sta n tl y t u rn ed toward th e d eer th e be t t er to m a i n ta i n h i s

d i sgu i se . P rese n t ly_ t h e bu ck cam e q u i t e cl os e to th e I n d ia n , w h en t h e

l a t te r sped h i s arrow and bro ugh t th e q u a rry dow n . They carr i ed th e

mea t h om e and th e ol d m an dem and ed tha t th e m ea t a n d sk in sh o u l d

al l be h i s in paym en t for h i s ad v i ce . Th i s was th e th i rd t i m e h e had

ad v i sed th em and th e th i rd t im e h e h ad rece i ved a g i ft fo r h i s serv i ce .

He d i rected th a t th e m ea t sh ou l d be c u t i n to p i eces and h u ng in th e

trees to d ry , a n d th a t th e sk i n shou l d be s tretch ed a n d d r ie d fo r h i s bed .

2 1 . Nex t day t h e eld er bro th er des i red th e yo u n ger to stay a t h om e,

say i n g tha t h e wou l d l i k e to h u n t a l o n e . As u su al,t h e o l d man warn ed

him aga ins t th e sou th a n d d i rec ted h im to h u n t i n t h e country n or th o fthe h ogan . He se t o u t , accord ingly , to t h e north ; bu t he re tu rn ed a t

n igh t w i thou t an y gam e . Again o n . th e follow i n g m orni n g h e set o u t

al o n e , a nd th i s t i m e we n t to t h e we s t , a s h i s fa the r h ad d i rec ted . He

h u n ted alld ay w i tho u t su ccess,u n t i l n ea r s u n se t

,w he n i t w as t i m e for

him to re tu rn . The n h e rem embered w h a t h i s fa the r h ad to l d h im o f

t he sh rubs tha t wou l d a lways h a ve deer fo r h i s ar row . Look i n g a ro u n d

h e saw a cl iff rose , i n to wh i ch h e sho t h i s da rt, and a t t h e sam e i n s ta n t

wa rran t s ] M YTH : THE D I SOBED IENCE O F THE PROPHET . 3 93

h e obse rve d a d eer fa l l i n g in th e sh ru b . He ran to th e spo t an d fou n d

a dead doe . W h en h e h ad sk i n n ed a n d d ressed i t,h e cou l d d i sco ver

no h‘

i gh t ree a t h a n d tha t h e m i gh t h an g i t o n t o“

k eep i t safe from the

wol ves , so h e l a i d th e m ea t o n t h e top of th e clifi“

rose,sprea d the sk i n

o ver i t , s tu ck an“

arro w u prigh t o n t h e top of i t, and wen t h om e . On

h i s way he ofte n s a i d to h im sel f, “ Why does my fa t her b i d m e n eve r to

go to the sou th ?” He po nde red m u ch on th e s ubj ec t,an d before h e

reach ed th e h u t h e ha d d e t erm i n ed to sa t i sfy h i s cu ri os i ty a nd to go to

the sou th o n th e fi rs t good Oppo r tu n i ty . Wh e n h e go t h om e h e tol dwh ere h e h a d l a id th e mea t , a nd , fea r i ng t h at t h e crows o r coyo tes

m i gh t ge t a t i t, h e begged h i s bro th er t o h as ten a n d bring i t i n . Wh e nt h e mea t came h e ask ed th a t a p i ece m i gh t be bro i l ed for h i s l u n ch o n

t h e h u nt'

nex t d ay . Al l tha t ni gh t th e th ough t of h i s fa th er’s proh ib it i o n co n t i n u ed t o hau n t h i s m i n d and wo u l d no t b e d i sm i ssed .

213 . On the inorrow,w he n h e we n t for t h on h i s h u n t

, h is fa th e r gav e

h im t h e u sua l i nj u n ct i o n s say i n g : “ Hunt i n a ny d i rect i o n from th e

lodge. th a t yo u w i l l ; bu t go n o t to t h e so u th .

” He depar ted as i f h e

were go ing t o th e eas t ; b u t w h e n h e go t o u t of s i gh t from t h e h ogan

he tu rned ro u n d t o t he sou th a n d p u rsued h i s way i n tha t d i rec t i o n.

H e wen t o n u n t i l h e cam e t o t h e San Jua n R i ve r,a n d h e fo rded i t a t

a. p l ac e a l i t t l e abo ve Bea u ti fulUnder th e Cot to n woods , wh ere t h ey

h ad crossed i t be fore. He wen t o n to a p l ace ca l l ed Tyel-sakae(E rec t

Cat-Ta i l Rush es ) a n d th en ce t o a p l ace cal l ed Ds iskie(C l ay H i l l ). Here

h e l a i d h i s deer sk in mask“

and h i s weapon s on th e g ro u n d and cl i mbed

the h i l l to obser ve th e su rro u nd i n g cou n try fo r gam e . Bu t i n s tead of

look i n g sou t h in th e d i rec t i o n in wh i ch h e was go i n g h e looked to th e

n or th, the co u n t ry i n wh i ch dwe l t h i s peop l e . Befo re h i m . were t h e.

beau t i fu l p eak s o f $epéntsa, w i t h t h e i r fores ted s l opes . The cloud s

h u n g over th e m ou n ta i n,th e sh owers o f ra in fel l dow n i ts s ides

,and all

th e cou n t ry looked bea u t i fu l . An d h e sa i d to t h e l a nd,“ A qalani l

”

(gree t i n g ) , an d a feel i n g of l o n el i n ess and h ome s i ck n ess cam e ov er h im ,

a n d h e w ep t a n d san g t h i s so n g

That. flow ing wate r ! That fl ow ing water !My m ind wande rs ac ro ss i t .That b road wa ter ! That fl ow i ng wa te r !My m ind wanders ac ross i t .

That old age w ater ! That. flow ing wate r !My m ind wanders ac ross .i t.

23 . The gods h eard h i s son g a n d t h ey were abou t to gra t i fy his w i shes .

He was desti n ed to re t u rn t o (Ifepentsa , b u t n o t i n th e m a n n er h e m ostd es i red . H ad h e gazed t o t h e sou t h w h e n h e a sce n ded th e h i l l , i n s tead

of to t he n or th,i t m i gh t h ave bee n o th erw i se .

24 . He w i ped away h i s tears a n d we n t dow n to t he p lace wh ere h e

had la i d h i s ma sk a n d a rm s a t t h e foo t o f th e h i l l . He pu t on his buck

sk i n coa t a n d was .j u s t pu t t i n g on h i s m ask , b u t h ad n o t q u i te d rawn

i t dow n over h i s h ead,w h e n h e heard a n o i se to t h e sou th and

, l ook i n g

3 94 THE MOUNTAIN CHANT .

a rou nd,he saw a g rea t c rowd on h orseback r i d i n g toward s h i m . To

see be t ter he d rew o ff h is m ask , and th en obse rv ed t h at th ey wered i v id i n

gi n to two l i n es as th ey ad van ced , a m om en t l a t er h e was s u r

rou nded.Th e h orsemen were o f t h e t ri be o f U te , a peopl e w h ose

l anguage h e d i d n o t u n ders tan d . One yo u ng man rode u p cl ose to t he

Navaj o,a imed a n a rro w a t the breas t of t h e l a t t e r a n d d rew i t to th e

head;bu t j u s t as h e was abou t to rel ea se i t an ol d man began to ad

d ress th e party i n a l ou d vo ice an d th e yo u n g wa rri o r l owe red h i s a r .

row and re lax ed h i s bow . The n th e speak e r d i smou n ted , approach ed

th e cap t i v e,and se i zed h im by th e arm . Fo r a l o n g t i m e there was

m u ch l o ud tal k i n g and d i scu ss i o n am on g the U te . Now on e wou l d

harang u e the par ty and t he n a n o th er w ou ld m ak e a speech , bu t after a

w h i l e th e d i spu t e ceased a n d th e o l d ma n m o t i o n ed to th e Navaj o t o

m ove on . They m ade h i m t rot wh i l e th ey fol l owed h i m o n h o rseback

i n a sem i c i rc l e,so th a t th ey cou ld g uard him a n d wa tch h i s m o vem en ts .

Soon th ey came t o Tyelsakattz ; sh or tl y afterward th ey crossed th e San

J uan . Tha t n i gh t th ey camped n ea r (JJepéntsa, wh ere th ey w atchedh i m c l osel y alln i gh t an d ga ve h im n o th i n g to ea t . Th ey bou n d h i s

fee t fi rm l y toge th er , t i ed h i s h and s beh i n d h i s back , and th rew an u n

t an n ed buck sk in over him before th ey lay d ow n to s l eep .

" 5. They set o u t on th eir j o u rney again ea rl y i n th e morn i ng . A t

Q ii inceslc i‘

(Sca ttered Spr i n gs ) they s topped fo r a l i t t l e w h i l e to ea t , b u t

t h e o n l y food th ey gave the Navaj o was t h e fu l l o f h i s p al m of serv ice

berr ies . Wh en t hey arr i ved o n th e so u t h s id e of t sos i (Nar rowWater)t h ey h al ted for the n i gh t an d a nu m be r wen t o u t to h u n t . Amon g th em

th ey secu red two deer , o n e l arge an d o n e sm al l th e fee t o f th ese t hey

gave to th e i r c apt i ve fo r h i s s u pper . Nex t morn i n g th ey gave him a

p iec e of l i ver , h a l f o f wh ich h e ate a n d th e res t h e k ep t . Th ey m o ved

on ra p id ly an d res ted for th e ni gh t a t Ds ilnahoyal, where th ere was a

sp r i ng . Th ey h ad gi v en h im n o th i ng t o ea t allth a t d ay , and a t nigh t

t hey gave h i m no th i n g ; so i t was wel l for h i m th a t h e h ad secre ted par t

of th e l i ve r . Th i s h e a te after da rk . O n the th i rd m orn i n g h e h ad t o

set o u t fas t i ng a n d had to go o n foo t a s u su al . Abou t n oon,h owever

,

on e of th e U t e t ook p i ty on h i m an d l e n t h i m a h orse to rid e,wh i l e

th e own er of th e h orse wal ked al l th e a ftern oon . Tha t n igh t th ey ar

r i ved at th e ban k o f a l a rge r i v er,an d h ere th ey ga ve h im to u nd er

s tand , by sign s , t ha t th i s was t h e l as t r i ve r th ey wo u l d c ross u n t i l th ey

go t h ome . Beyon d the r i v er th ere was n o th i n g i n s i gh t bu t a grea tpla i n .

26 . lly the l igh t o f th e morn i ng , h owever , on t he n ex t d ay,h e d i s

ce rn ed som e mou n tai n s sh ow i ng th e i r poi n t s fa i n t l y above th e n orth ern

hori z on . To th ese th e U t e po i n ted and mo t i o n ed to h i m to go ah ead .

They d id no t fol lo w h im i m med ia tely bu t sadd l ed u p a t th ei r l e i s u re

wh i l e t he Navaj o wen t on . Though h e was n ow for som e t i m e a l o n eon th e t ra i l a nd ou t of s igh t o f h i s ca ptors , h e k n e w tha t h e cou ldnot escape ; al l arou n d and before h i m was a d eser t pl a i n wh ere h e cou l d

MATTHEWS ‘J M YTH : THE CAPTIV I T Y OF THE PROPHET. 3 95

not d isc ove a. s ingl e h id i n g place ; so h e t ru dged o n , t i red a n d h u ng ry

a n d sorrow i ng , and h e wep t al l a l o n g the way . A t n oo n they ga ve himan o t h er hand fu hot

’

berr i es .

227. A t n igh t t h ey came to a pl a in s i t u a ted be tween fou r m ou n ta i n s,

one on th e eas t , o n e on t h e sou th , on e o n t h e wes t , and on e o n t he north ,

a nd h ere th ere was a g rea t e n cam pm en t o f U t e , wh ose te n t s were sca t

tered arou n d i n d i ffe re n t p la ces o n t h e p la i n . There w as one t ent

wh o s e top was pa i n ted black a n d whos e ba se was pa i n ted wh i t e andw h ich h ad a fo rk ed po l e

_

set in t h e g i o u nd i n fron t. o f i t. To th i s h i si i i -as t er, th e ol d man wh o h ad sa ved h i s l i fe a n d ta ke n h im by th e armon the occas i o n of h i s cap tu re , l ed him ,

w h i l e t h e res t of th e war pa rt ydepar t ed to thei r respec t i v e t e n t s . Th e ol d man h u ng h i s own a rm s

and accou term en ts on the pol e,an d th e sl a ve

,fol low i ng h i s exampl e ,

h u n g h i s dee r sk i n m ask a n d robe on the fork s an d .l a id h i s cru tch es

aga i n st t h e pol e , a n d h e prayed to theh ead of t he dee r, say i n g :

Wheneve r I have appealed to yo u ,y o u h ave. he lped me . my pet .

Onc e y o u were al ive:m y pet .

Take c a-re that I d o no t d i e

,my pet .

W'

atc h o ver me .

“T

hen he h ad fi n i s h ed h i s p rayer an ol d m an came a n d d an ced arou n d

h im,an d wh e n the. l a t ter h ad do ne an old woman approa ch ed w i th a

wh i s t l e i n h er h a n d and she w h i s t l ed alla rou n d h i m . Th is was fo r j oybeca u se th ey h ad cap t u red o n e o f anal i e n t r ibe . Then h i s mas ter ni o

tioned t o h i m to go i n to th e t e n t . Here h e was g i ve n a l a rge bow l of

berri es o f wh i ch h e ate h i s fi l l,and h e was al l owed t o l i e dow n and

s l eep u nd i s tu rbed u n t i l m or n i n g .

28 . Nex t: morn i ng the U t e bega n t o en ter the t en t . The y came on e

by o n e a n d i n sma l l g rou ps u n t i l a fte r a wh i l e t h ere was a con s id erabl e

crowd p resen t . The n th ey gave the Navaj o t o u nders ta nd by s ig n st h a t th ey w i sh ed to k n ow for w ha t pu rpose h e wore t he. mask a nd the

bu ck sk i n . He a n swe red th a t h e u sed t h em fo r no par t i cu l a r p u rpose ,bu t on l y for a wh i m . They repea t ed t h e qu es t i o n t h ree t imes v ery

po i n t ed ly a n d sea rch i n gly,bu t h e con t i n u ed t o mak e e vas i v e rep l i es .

The fou rth t ime the y add ressed h im the y ch arged h i m t o t el l t he t ra t t.

a n d speak q ui ck l y,rem i nd i n g h im th a t h e was a. p ri so n er wh ose l i fe

was in th e ha nd s o f h i s cap tors a n d tel l i ng h i m th a t i f h e d i d n o t d is

clo se th e u se o f h i s m ask an d robe h e wou l d b e k i l l ed befo re su n se t ,wh i l e it h e re vea l ed th e sec ret

'

h is l i fe wou l d be Spared . He pond ered

bu t a sh or t t ime o ver th e i r word s a n d d e term i ned to tel l th em the t ru th .

So h e. expla i n ed t o th em th e. u se of t h e m ask and the robe i n dece i v i n g

the deer a n d told th e won derfu l pow er h e h ad o f get t i n g game by sh o‘

o t

i n g i n to cer ta i n bu sh es . A t dark th ey sen t i n two yo u ng m en to he

i n i t i a ted i n to h is mys ter i es . He bega n by gi v i n g t h em a fu llaccou n t

of al l h is fath er had don e and allh e h ad sh ow n h i m ; h e. t h e n taugh t.

th em how to bu i l d th e swea t -h ou se,h ow t o m ak e t h e m ask , how to

sh oo t th e pl u ck , and h ow to wal k l i k e a de er,an d h e m ade th em prac

3 96 THE MOUNTA IN CHANT .

t i ce th e wal k a n d th e mo t i o n s o f th e a n i mal . Al l th i s occu p ied e l e ven

days .

20. On t h e twel fth day th e Ute wen t o u t to h u n t, l e av i ng few m en

i n camp . There was a sm alli n c l os u re o f brnsli wood clo se to th e te n t ;i n i t were two h igh poles on wh ic h sk i n s w ere d ressed . H is m as te r

le ft h im,t hat day , two sk i n s to p repare , a n d h e set. to work at th em

and l abored h ard scrap i n g a n d rubb i n g them u n t i l abou t n oo n , wh e n

h e fe l t h u ngry and wen t i n to th e te n t to se e i f h e cou l d fi n d a ny th i n g

to ea t . He open ed a bag a n d fou n d i t to co n ta i n d r i ed m ea t ; h e p u t

som e o f th i s on th e coa l s and s a t d ow n to wa i t t i lli t was do n e . As h e

watch ed th e m ea t cook i n g h e h ea rd a n o ise a t th e de er sk i n door of th e

te n t a nd,l ook i n g u p , h e beh e l d an ol d wom a n crawl i n g i n on

'

her hand s

a n d k n ees . Sh e passed on ce a ro u n d t h e fi re an d wen t o u t a t th e doo r

aga i n,b u t befo re she d i sappeared sh e t u r ned h e r h ead a nd add ressed

h i m,say i ng :

“ M y grand ch i l d,d o some th i n g fo r yo u rsel f.” He pau sed

a m om en t i n wonder a t th e s t ran ge v is i o n h e h ad see n and th e s tran ge

words h e had h eard , a n d th e n h e r u sh ed o u t o f th e te n t t o fol l ow h i s

v i s i to r an d see w ho sh e m i gh t be . He we n t a rou n d th e te n t fo u r t i m es ;h e. ga zed in every d i rec t i o n ; bu t n o o n e wa s to be see n . D u r i n g t h e

res t of th e day h e work ed b u t l i t t l e . Occas io n al ly h e took u p a s to n e

an d r ubbed t h e h ides ; b u t mos t o f th e t i m e h e walked an d lo i tered

a ro u nd,bu sy wi th h i s t ho ugh ts .

3 0. After su n r is e th e h u n t ers re tu rn ed w i th an ab u nd ance of m ea t .

They cam e to th e grea t l od ge wh ere th e m as te r of th e Navaj o d wel t ;they ex t en ded i ts c i rcum fe ren ce by remov i n g the p egs a t th e bo t tom ;t hey s tored th e good s o f th e ow n er away a t th e ou t e r edge , so as to

leave a cl ea r sp ace in th e ce n te r,a n d m ade e very th i n g ready fo r th e

recep t i o n o f a large n um ber of g u es ts . After d ark a grea t n u m ber

ga th ered i n th e t en t an d th e cap t i ve was ord e re d by h i s mas t e r to br i ngsome water . He took two w ick er bo t t l es to a n e igh bo r i n g sp r i ng , fi l l e d

t hem , a nd l a id t h em o n th e grou n d bes id e th e s pr i n g , wh i l e h e we n t to

ga th er som e pl an t s t o s t ick i n to th e m ou th s o f t h e bo t tl es as s topple s .

As h e went h e h eard a vo i ce say i n g “ H is t ! ” a n d look i n g in th e d i rec t i o n

wh en ce i t cam e h e saw a form s i tt i n g in t h e w a ter ; i t wore a mask l i k e

th e h ead o f a great ow l an d i t was smok i n g a p i pe . Wh e n h e t u r n edtowa rd s i t , i t sa i d ,

“ Yo u wa lk a ro u n d l i k e on e w i th ou t sen se o r k n ow l

edge . Why d on’ty o u do some th i n g fo r yo u rsel f ? Wh en nex tyo u h ea rmy vo i ce i t w i l l be we l l fo r y o u i f yo u w al k toward s i t .

”

3 1 . The vo i ce ceased a nd t h e form of th e ow l -ma n v an i sh ed . Then t h e

Navaj o p u t th e s toppl es i n to th e v essel s a n d car r i ed them back . Whe nh e re t u rn ed h e observed th a t two l a rge dogs we re t i ed to t h e door

,o n e

o n each s ide , a nd th a t th ree doors h ad been added to th e l odge d u ri n g

h i s absen ce , so th a t now th ere were fou r doors co ver i n g th e doorway .

When h e e n tered h e fou n d th e l odge fi l l ed w i th U te a n d h e saw fou r

bags o f tobacco a n d fou r p ipes ly i n g n ear th e ti re,one a t each car

d i na l po i n t o f t h e compass . He obse rved a ve ry ol d ina n an d a v ery

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3 98 THE MOUNTAIN CHANT .

d i sappeared a few of th e U te bega n to n od an d cl ose th e i r ey es ; soon th e

o the rs showed s ign s o f d rows i n ess ; som e s t re tch ed th em sel ves o u t o n

th e grou n d o verpowered w i th sl eep ; o the rs rose a n d d ep ar ted from

t ime to t i m e , s i ngly an d i n l i t t l e gro ups , t o seek th e i r l odges a n d repose

there . Th e l as t t o d rop as l eep were the ol d man a n d th e old woman

w ho sat a t t h e door ; b u t a t l e n g th th e i r ch i n s fel l u pon th e i r bosom s .

Then t h e Navaj o,fear i n g n o w a tch ers

,wen t t o wor k a n d l oose n ed th e

cord s t ha t bou n d h im ; h e l i fted , from th e i n s i d e , som e o f the pegs wh i ch

h el d th e ed ge o f th e te n t,a n d sh o ved ou t th e two bags of embro id er ies

w h i ch Q astceelei h ad told h i m to take . P ass i n g ou t th rough th e door

of t h e l od ge,where h e fo u n d bo th th e w a t ch -dogs sou n d as leep

,a n d

tak i n g wi th h i m th e cord s w i th wh i ch h e had been t i ed a n d som e of

the tobacco , h e wen t ro u n d to th e back o f th e l odge , wh ere h e h ad p u t

th e bags ; th ese be t i ed w i th th e cord s i n su ch a m a n n e r tha t t h ey wou l d

m ak e an ea s i l y bal an ced dou bl e b u n d l e . He shou ld ered h i s b u nd l e a n d

w as allready to s ta r t .

3 3 . A t th i s m omen t h e hea rd,a t a little d i s tance to th e sou th of

where h e s tood , th e boo t o f an ow l . I n s tan t l y reco l l ect i n g t h e words

of th e ow l - l i k e form wh ich h e h ad e n cou n tered a t t h e spr i n g a t n igh t

fall,h e set off in th e d i rec t i on from wh i ch th e cal l p roceeded . He had

not wal ked far u n t i l h e cam e to a p rec i p i tou s b l uff fo rmed by two bra n ch

i n g canon s,and i t seemed a t fi rs t i m poss i bl e fo r h im to p roceed far th er .

Soon,however

,h e n o t i ced a tal l spr u ce tree

,wh ich grew bes id e th e

preci p i ce from the foo t to th e su mm i t,fo r th e d ay h ad n ow begu n to

d awn a n d he c o u ld see obj ects more cl earl y . A t this j u nc tu re Q astce'

elgi

aga i n appeared to h im a n d sa i d : How i s i t,my gra nd ch i ld

,that you

a re s t i l l h e re ? Get o n t h e top of tha t spru ce t re e a n d go dow n i n to

th e cano n on i t .” Th e Navajo s t re tched ou t h i s hand to se i z e th e top

of th e t ree , b u t i t swayed away from h i s grasp .

“ See,my g ra n d fa th e r,

”

h e sa id to Q astceelei ,“ i t moves away from me ; I ca n n o t reach i t .

”

Then Q astceelc i fl u ng th e wh i t e l igh tn i n g a rou n d th e top o f th e t ree,

as a n I nd ia n fi i n gs h i s l asso a rou n d t h e n eck of a h ors e, and d rew i t

i n to th e edge of the cl iff .

“ Descen d,

” h e comma nded th e I nd i an,

“ an d

w he n you reach th e bot tom t ake fo u r sp rays from the tree,e ach from

a d iffe ren t p ar t . Yo u may n eed th em i n th e fu t u re .

” st) th e Na vaj o

wen t down, took t h e fo u r sp rays a s he was h idd en an d pu t the m u nderh i s robe .

3 4. A t th e base o f the blu tf h e aga i n m e t Q astc eelei , a n d at th i s

mome n t he h eard a no i se,as of a grea t and d i s ta n t t u m u l t, w h i ch seemed

to com e from above an d from beyond th e edge o f th e cli if wh e nc e they

had desce nded . From momen t to m omen t i t g rew l o ude r a n d cam e

n ea rer , and soon t h e sou nds o f an gry vo i ces co u ld b e d i s t i n g u i sh ed .

The U t e had d i scovered th e fl i gh t of th e i r cap t i v e a n d were in ho t p u rsu i t . “ You r e n em i es a re com i n g fo r you

,

” sa i d th e d i v i n e o n e ; bu t

yond e r smal l h o l es on th e oppos i te s i d e of th e c anon a re th e doors of

my d wel l i n g , where you may h id e . The bo t tom o f t h e cano n i s s trewn

MATTHEWS ] M YTH : THE FL IGHT OF THE PROPHET.

w i t h la rge rocks and fa l l e n t rees ; i t wou l d tak e yo u m u ch t ime and

h ard. l abor to ge t o ve r th ese i f I d id n o t hel p you ; bu t I w i lldo some

th i n g t o mak e you r way easy .

” As h e sa i d th i s h e bl ew a s tron g brea th ,a n d i n s ta n t l y a great wh i t e ra i n bow spa n n ed th e cano n . The Navaj o

tr i ed to s tep on th i s in orde r to c ross , b u t i t was so soft tha t h i s fee t

went th rough ; h e cou l d n o t s tep on i t . Q astc‘

eelc i s tood bes ide him an d

la ug h ed a t h i s fru i t l ess a ttem p t s to ge t on th e ra i n bow. After h e h ad

enjoyed th i s sport s u ffic i e n t ly th e ye (A n gl ic i zed , gay o r yay ) bl ew

ano th er s t ro ng brea th , whe n a t o n ce th e ra i nbow becam e as ha rd as

i c e a nd they bo th crossed i t w i t h ease . Whe n they reach ed th e oppos i te.wal l of th e cano n Q astc

‘

eelei po i n t ed to a very sm al l h ol e i n the cl i ff and

sa id,

“ Th i s i s th e door of my lodge ; e n ter !” By th i s t ime th e sh ou ts o f

th e U te sou n ded very l o u d i n the ears of th e ter r ified fugi t i ve and i t

se em ed to h i m tha t h i s p u rs uers mu s t h a ve reached th e ed ge of the

opposi te c lifi”

,wh ere th ey wou l d n o t be l ong before th ey wou l d see h im

sti l l , h ard as h e t r i ed to en ter th e cave , he co u l d n o t s ucceed ; th e h ol e

was no t b ig e nough for him to p u t h i s h ead i n . Th e Yay bi c hy roared

w i th l augh ter a n d slapped h i s h and s toge t h er as be w i tn essed th e abjc e t fear an d th e fru i t l ess effor ts o f the Navajo . Wh e n h e h ad l au gh edenough h e bl ew o n th e l i t t l e h o l e a n d i t spread i n s ta n t ly i n to a l arge

ori fice,th rou gh wh i ch they bo th en tered w i th ease . They passed th rough

three room s and s topped i n th e fo u r th . Here Q astc‘

ee’

lei took the bags

from th e back of th e Navaj o,op en ed th em ,

and d rew from th em som e

beau t i fu l l y garn i sh ed cl o th i n g— a pa i r o f m occas i n s,a pa i r o f l on g .

fri nged l egg i n gs , a nd a sh i r t . He arrayed h imsel f i n these andwe n t ou t,l e av i n g t he Navaj o i n th e cave . As soo n a s h i s rescue r was gon e th e

fu g i t i ve h eard l ou d n o i ses w i tho u t a nd t h e sou nd of m any an g ry vo ices ,wh i ch con t i n u ed for a l o n g

,l o n g time . A t l as t th ey d i ed away and were

h eard n o m ore . The U t e h ad track ed h im to t h e edge o f the cl i ff w here

h e go t on th e t re e ; b u t th ere they l os t h i s t ra i l and search ed all the

n ei ghborhood to see i f th ey cou l d rega i n i t ; h en ce th e n o i ses . “Th e n

al l was s i l e n t Q astceelei re t u rn ed a nd sa id , You r en em i es h a ve d epar ted ;you ca n leav e i n safety .

” So,tak i ng a tan n ed el k sk in to co ver h i s ba ck

and a pa i r o f new moccas i n s to pro tect h i s fee t, t h e Navaj o se t o u t

from th e cave .

3 5 . It was ni gh tfal l whe n h e em erged . He tu rn ed h i s face in t he d i

rect i o n of h i s h ome an d wal ked rap id l y allthe n ight. As d ay d awn ed h e

bega n to fee l h opefu l ; bu t , ere th e su n rose , d is tan t sou nds , wh i ch g rew

l o uder an d lo ude r,reach ed h i s ear . He k n ew th em to be t he vo i ces o f

h i s p u rsu ers and aga in h e became sorel y afra id . He h u rr i ed on and

came n ea r th e foot o f a h i gh i so lated p i nnacl e o f rock , whose top ap

peared to be i n access i bl e . G l a n ci n g to th e s u mm i t, howeve r , h e b eh e ld

s tan d i n g th ere a bl ach mou n ta i n sh eep . Th i n k i ng th a t th i s s i n gu la r v i s ion

was se n t to h i m as a s i g n from th e yays (god s) and boded wellfor h i m ,

h e cam e to th e base of th e rock , whe n th e sh eep add ressed h i m , say i n g“ M y grandson

,com e arou n d to th e o th er s id e o f th e rock and you w i l l

400 THE M OUNTA IN CHANT .

fi n d a place whe re yo u m ay asce n d .

” He wen t arou n d a s h e was b id

de n an d saw t h e cl e ft in t h e roc k , b u t i t was too n arrow fo r him to

c l imb in i t . Th en th e sh eep bl e w i n to the cl e ft a nd i t sp read o u t so w id e

th a t h e en te red i t eas i ly and cl a mbered to th e su mm i t . Here h e fou n d

th e sh eep s tand ing in fou r t ra ck s , marked o r s u nk e n in th e r ock , on e

h oof inert-c h track , a n d u nder th e cen ter of hi s body w as a. smallhole i n

th e rock . I n to th is h ol e th e sh eep bad e h i m e n ter ; bu t h e repli ed th a t

t h e h ol e was too sm al l . Then th e sh eep bl e w on th e h o l e au d i t spread

so w ide open th a t bo th th e man a nd th e sh eep e n tered eas i ly a n d de

scended i n to th e h eart o f th e rock . Here th ere we re aga i n fo u r apar t

m en t s ; two of th em were b l u e and two were bl ack ra i nbows ex te nded

i n alld i rec ti on s th rough th em . I n th e fou r th room , wh i ch w as bl ack ,th e sh eep l eft the Navaj o to res t , and depar ted . Soo n th e fug i t i v e

h eard,as o n th e p rev i ou s d ay

,w h e n h e l ay h idd en in th e cave of Q as

tceelc i , th e vo i ces of the an gry Ute ca l l i n g a nd h ara n gu i n g al l aro u n d

th e rock,a n d h e con t i n u ed to h ea r t hem fo r a v ery l o ng t i me . Soon

afte r the c l am or ceased th e sh eep re t u rn ed to h im t o n o t i fy h im thath is

e n em ies had w i thd raw n a nd t h a t h e cou l d set ou t on h i s j o u rn ey aga i n

w i th ou t fear .

3 6. H o j o u rneyed h omeward al l th e n igh t , and wh en day l i gh t bega n

to appear h e fou n d h i msel f o n the ban ks of th e s tream wh ere th e U t e

sl ep t t h e n igh t before th ey reach ed the i r ten ts,w he n t hey bore h i m

home a cap t i v e . Here ag ai n h e h ea rd i n the d i s tan ce t h e v o i ces o f h i s

p u rsuers an d h e h as te n ed h i s s teps . P rese n t l y h e met a l i t t l e o l d man

s i t t i n g on the grou n d an d cl ean i n g cactu s fru i t. The ol d man had a

sh arp n ose,l i ttl e b ri ght eyes

,an d a smal l m ou s tach e grow i n g o n each

s id e o f h i s u pper lip. A t on ce th e Navaj o recogn ized h i m as t h e Bu shrat (Ncotoma inert

/Joana ) . The l at ter ask ed th e tra vel er wh ere h e cam e

from .

“ Oh,I am j u s t roam i n g aro u n d h ere

,

” was th e a n swer . Bu t th e

rat, n o t sa t i sfied , rep ea ted h i s q u es t i o n three t i m es , in a m an n er w h i ch

gave t h e Navaj o to u nders tan d th a t h i s a n swer was n o t cred i ted . So

a t l ast h e a n swered tru th fu l ly that h e w as a Navaj o w ho h ad been cap tu red by th e U te , an d th a t h e was flee i n g h om eward from h i s cap tors

,

w ho were a t th a t mom en t cl ose beh i n d h im in p u rs u i t . “ I t i s wel l,

”

sa i d th e ra t , tha t you h a ve tol d me th i s,fo r I t h i n k I c an sav e you .

On yon der h i l l s id e th ere i s a fl at rock , a n d ro u n d abou t i t are p i l ed

ma ny l i t tl e sti ck s a n d s ton es . I t i s m y h ome,a n d I w i l l g u id e y o u

t h i ther .” He led th e I n d ia n to the ro ck an d,sh ow i n g h im a sm al l h ol e

u n der i t, bade h im s toop low an d p lace h i s h ead n ear th e ho l e . As th e

Navaj o obeyed th e ra t bl ew a s tron g brea th o n th e h ol e,w h i ch a t o n ce

open ed w id e e n o u gh to l e t th e v i s i tor i n . The ra t fol l o wed immed iately

beh i n d h i m as h e e n tered . I n s id e o f th e d en th ere were a n ol d wom an,

two you ng m en , and two yo u ng women . These con s ti tuted th e fam i l y

o f t he B u sh -rat, wh o l eft th e d en as soon as th e s t ran ge r was s afel y

h ou sed . Soon the vo i ces of t h e p u rsu i n g U t e w ere agai n h eard arou n d

t h e rock a n d at the mou th o f the d en . a n d the Na vaj o s a t a l on g t i m e

M YTH : M AR V ELOU S I NC IDEN TS OF THE FL IGHT . 401

in s i l e n ce l i s ten i n g to th em . After a wh i l e th e ra t woma n sa i d to h i m,

“ You seem to be t i red and h u ngry . W i llyo u h a ve some th i n g to ea t ? ”a nd h e a n swered , Yes ; I am very h u n gry and wou l d l i ke some food

.

"

On h ear i n g th i s she wen t i n to on e corn er o f h er d wel l i n g,w here were

ma ny ch i ps an d bo n es a n d sh el l s o f seed s an d sk i n s of fru i ts, and sh e

bro u ghth im som e of th ese and offered them to h im bu t at th i s momen tthe w i n d god w h i spered i n to h is ear and warn ed h i m no t to par take ofthe refu se ; so h e sai d to th e woman , “ M y mo th er

,I c an n o t ea t th ese

th i n gs .

” Then she wen t to an o th er corn er of th e d en,where t he re was

ano t he r p i l e of debr is ; b u t aga i n t he w i n d god p rom pted h im and aga i n

h e refu sed . After th i s she v is i ted i n tu rn two o the r p i l es o f t ras h i nthe co rners of h er l odge a n d t r i ed to m ak e h im accep t i t a s food

,b u t h e

s t i l l rej ec ted i t. Now , w h i l e h e had bee n s i t t i n g in th e lod ge'

he hadn o t fa i l ed to l ook a rou n d h i m , an d h e h ad observed a l on g row of w icker

jars s tand i n g a t o ne si d e . A t one e nd of th e row was a black vessel

a n d a t th e o th er en d a w h i t e v essel . XV hen she a t l e ng t h ask ed him ,

“ Wh a t food i s i t that yo u wou l d h a ve,my son ? ” t he w i n d god wh is

pe red to h im ,

“ A sk h er for tha t wh i ch i s in th e jars a t the e nd of therow ,

” a nd h e rep l ied ,

“ I w i l l tak e som e food from th e bl ack jar and

some from th e w h i te j ar.

” S he remo ved the stopples from th e j ars.

From th e bl a ck vessel s h e took n u ts of th e pinon a nd fru i t o f t he y u cca

a n d from th e wh i t e v essel sh e took cherr i e s and cac tu s fru i t,allof w h i ch

he rece i ved in th e fold e d co rn er of h i s elk robe . He was j u s t abou t. to

par take of som e of t h e n i c e fru i t wh e n aga i n h e h eard th e low vo i ce of

the wi n d god . Th is t ime i t sai d,

“ E a t no t t h e food o f t h e rat s in the

h ome o f th e ra ts , i f you wou ld n o t becom e a ra t ; wai t t i l l yo u go ou t

to n i gh t .

” M u ch as h e l on ged for t h e food,afte r h ea r i ng t h is

,h e tas ted

i t no t,b u t he l d i t in th e fold of th e e l k sk i n . La t e in the day th ey were

allas ton i sh ed by h ea r i n g a l o ud rattl i n g n o i se a t the mou th of t h e cave,

and , l ook i n g i n th a t d i rect i o n , saw th e e n d o f a b ig s t i ck , wh i ch was

t h ru s t v i c iou sly from t i m e to t ime i n to th e open i n g a nd poked aro u n d

in d iffere n t d i rect i o n s ; b u t i t was no t l o n g e n ough to reach to th e p l ace

w here t hey sat.

“ Wh a t i s t ha t ? ” sa i d t h e wom an .

“ Oh,

” an swered t h e

Navaj o,“ th a t i s th e Ute

,wh o h av e tra i l ed me to th i s h ol e a n d h one

to k i llm e by pok i n g th a t s t ick in h ere .

” Th e ol d ra t wa tched from a

secre t pl ace o u tsi de allth e ac t i o n s of the U te , a nd w h en h e came home

a t n i gh t h e ask ed h i s fam ily i f th e s t ick had h u r t any o f th em . We

saw on l y th e en d of i t ,” th ey repl i e d . He th e n tu rn ed to th e Navajo

a n d sa id,

“ Yo u r p u rsu ers h a ve d isapl'

i eared ; y o u may go ou t w i th o u t

fear .”

3 7. He t ru dged weari o n a l l n i gh t , a nd at d awn h e was bes i d e t h e

h igh volc an i c rocks a t Ootsosi , an o th er pl ace wh ere h i s cap tors h adh a l ted w i th h im. There i s on e p l ace w here th e rocky wal l i s q u i te

smoo th . A s h e was pass i ng th i s place h e h eard a vo i ce say i ng ,“ Sh ! ”

He l ooked al l a rou n d h i m,bu t saw no th i ng that co u l d h ave m ad e th e

sou nd . He was abou t to pass o n wh e n h e agai n h eard th e vo i ce , and ,5 ETH— QG

402 Tu e M OUNTA I N CHANT .

l ook i n g arou nd , h e aga i n saw n o on e . Th e fo u rt h t i m e tha t th i s h ap

pen ed,however

,he observed in t he smooth pa r t of th e rock a door

s tand i n g ope n and a l i t tl e a n imal cal l ed Kleyatc ini l ook i n g o u t a t h im .

A s h e s tood gaz i n g a t. the sha rp n ose a n d t h e bri gh t eyes th e d i s ta n t

vo ices of h i s pu rsu ers sou n ded aga i n i n hi s ears an d th e l i t t l e a n i ma l

bade h im e n ter an d h id e h i msel f. As th e Na vajo e n tered th e Kleyatc ini

passed o u t and cl osed th e doo r beh i n d h i m . Th e fugi t i v e was n o t lon g

in h is place of con cealme n t whe n the cl amo r m ad e by t h e fo i l e d p u r

suers was aga i n h ea rd , bu t i t cea sed soon e r th a n u su al . I t was n o t ye t

su n se t when th e l i tt l e a n i m al re tu rn ed t o an n o u n ce th a t t h e U te h ad

go n e from th e n e i ghborhood . Wh e n t h e Navaj o s tepped ont of t h e ho l e

in th e rock , Kleyatc ini po i n ted o u t to him th e mo u n t a i n s i n wh i ch h i s

home lay and cou n sel ed h im to t rav e l d i rec t l y towards th em .

3 8. He pu rsu ed h i s way in th e d i rec t i o n i nd i ca ted to h i m al l n i gh t ,a nd at break o f d ay he fou n d h i msel f wal k i n g be twee n a pa i r of low

h i l l s of cl ay wh i ch s tood c l os e togeth er,an d on ce m ore h e h eard beh i n d

h i m th e vo i ces o f h i s en em ies an d th e t ram pl i n g of th e i r h o rses . Bu t

n ow h is good fr i en d Q astc e'

elc i ap peared to him an d sa i d to h i m :“ M y

g randch i ld , are you s t i l l h e re ? Have yo u come on ly th u s far”

5 “ I am

h ere,

” cr i ed th e Navaj o , “ and oh , my grand fa th er , I cou l d d o n o be t te r.

Look a t my l imbs ! See h ow sore a n d swol l e n th ey are ! I am ex h au s ted

and feel th a t I can no t flee m u ch fa r the r befo re my e n em i es .

” “ Go ,

th en,

” sa id Q astc é'

élei ,“ to th a t b illwh ich i s th e far th er from u s a nd

c l imb to th e top of i t ; bu t , w h en yo u a re tak i n g th e very last s tep wh i ch

w i l l pl ace you on th e s umm i t , sh u t you r eyes as yo u m ak e tha t s tep .

”

The Navaj o ha s te n ed to th e h ill,a n d , weary as h e was

,h e soo n

asc emled i t . As h e l i fted h i s foo t to take th e l as t s tep h e cl osed h i s

eyes,as th e yay h ad hi dden h i m . \V h e n h e fe l t h i s foo t aga i n on th e

ear th he open ed h i s eyes , a n d-lo ! i n s tead of h av i n g a l i tt l e h i l l u nde r

h is feet , h e s tood on th e su m m it of a grea t mou n tai n peak , seamed w i t h

deep cano n s,bordered w i th rugged rock s , and cl o th ed .w i th grea t fo r

es t s o f p i n e an d sp ru ce ; wh i l e fa r away o n th e pl a i n a t th e foo t o f th e

mo u n ta i n— se fa r th a t h e cou l d scarcel y d i sce rn th em were h i s baffled

pu rs u ers , an d b es id e h im s tood Q astce'

elei . Th e l a t ter poi n te d ou t toh im many fam i l i a r p laces i n th e d i s tan ce—th e val l ey of th e Sa n Ju anan d Ds ily i

‘-

qoj‘

oni (Beau t i ful i n th e M ou n ta i n s) , where h e a n d h i s peopl e fi rs t l i ved . He res ted secu re l y on th e m o u n tai n top allday .

39 . A t su n se t h e we n t on h i s w ay aga i n . Whe n d ayl i gh t bega n toappea r h e crossed th e San Ju an . Soon after

,wh ile j o u rney ing o n o ve r

a n open p l a i n , h e on ce more h eard th e U te o n h i s t ra i l . He n ow fel t

ve ry sad and h opel ess,fo r h i s l i mbs were so s t i ff and swol l e n th a t

e very moti o n ga ve h i m pa i n an d h e co u l d h ard ly d rag h i m sel f alon g .

B u t at th i s momen t h e becam e con sc i o u s t h a t h e was n o t alon e , a n d

g l a n c i ng to one s ide h e saw N iltc i,the w i nd god

,wal k i n g w i th hi m .

And N iltc i brough t a g rea t d ark wh i rl w i nd , w h ich roared a m ome n t be

s id e t h em and the n bu ri ed i t s po i n t in th e grou n d a nd d u g a d eep hole

MATTHEWS ] MYTH : THE D I SC O M F I TURE OF H IS P L’

RSUERS . 403

th ere ; i t dug a ca vern w i t h fou r ch ambers . Then dark cl oud s gathered

a n d ra i n bega n to fa l l . “ Have yo u any th i n g w i t h you th a t may hel p

you ? ” ask ed the god .

“ I h ave n o th i ng,

” sa id th e Na vaj o,

“ bu t fo u r

sprays o f spru ce , wh ich th e Yay‘

b i c hy bade m e pl uck from t he tree on

wh ich I. desce nded i n to th e canon th e n igh t I l e ft th e U t e camp .

”

“ They w i l l d o ,

” sa i d the wi nd god .

“ M ak e q u ick ly fo u r ba l l s of m ud

an d th ru s t th rough each bal l a tw ig of th e spru ce,a n d lay th em 011 th e

grou n d so t h a t th e tops of the tw ig s w i l l po i n t t owards you r en em i e s .”

The Navaj o d id as h e was comma nded . Th e n N iltc i bl ew th e twigs andm u d ba l l s in th e d i 1 ec tion o f th e p u ts u e i s and tol d the Nay a io t o d e

scen d i n to th e w h eat w h ich t he w h i r _l w i nd h ad fo 1 med . He wen t d o wnan d 1 ested sec u 1 e , wh i l e h e h ea rd ove1 head grea t peal s o f th u nd er

, th e

l ou d rus h i n g o f th e tempes t, and th e h eavy pa t ter i n g of enormou s h a i l

s ton es , to br i n g wh i ch th e m u d ba l l s h ad been made . Th e n o i ses of th e

storm d i ed away , a n d abou t m idday N iltc i cam e i n to th e cave an d sa i d

to th e man :“ C om e forth ; you r e n em ies h ave been d i spersed .

M any

h ave been k i l l ed by th e h a i l , a n d th e res t ha ve gon e towards th e i r

homes .

” Then th e Navaj o came u p o u t of th e grou nd an d se t ou t. in th ed irec t i o n of h i s ol d hom e at Ds ily i

‘

o ojhni .

40. I t was abou t su n se t wh e n h e reach ed th e top of th e m ou n ta i n .

Th e sn o w began to fa l l h eav i ly and a s tro ng w i n d began to blow.He

wal k ed on to th e we s tern brow of th e m ou n ta i n,where t h ere was a g rea t

p rec i p i ce . Here th e storm bl ew w i th su ch v iol en ce th a t h e cou ld scarcely

s tan d,an d yet th e p rec i pi ce was so s teep th a t h e d i d not see how h e

cou l d ge t down . Bu t so on , as on a form er occas i o n o f th i s k i nd , h e

d i scovered a spru ce t ree wh i ch grew aga i n s t th e s id e of t h e p reci p i ce,

and at the sam e t i m e Q astceelc i appeared t o h im aga i n and d i rec ted

h i m to go dow n 0 11 th e sp ru ce t re e . He d i d so ,a nd wh e n h e reach ed

the bo t tom h e fo u n d the yay th ere awai ti n g h i m . He addressed:

Q asteeelc i :“ Oh

,my grand fa th er , I am t i red and sore and sl eepy . I

wo u l d l i k e to l i e dow n u n d er th i s t ree and sl eep .

” B u t th e god a n swered,

Go,my gra nd ch i ld

,to yonde r fi re and res t,

” a nd h e po i n ted to a. d is tant,gleam o n th e s id e of a m o untai n wh i ch lay beyon d a very deep va l l ey .

No , my gra nd fa ther ,” cr i ed th e Navaj o

,I am weary an d my l i m bs are

sore an d weak ; I ca n n o t travelso far .” I w i l l. h elp y o u ,

” sa i d th e

yay,and as h e spok e h e sp a n n ed th e val l ey w i t h a flas h of l i gh tn i ng ,

o ver wh ich h e l ed th e m an to th e d i s ta n t mou n tai n . Th ey rea ched i t

a t a poi n t cl ose to th e fi re ; bu t the mom en t th ey s tood aga i n on th e fi rm

ear th Q astce'

elgi an d th e fi re v an i sh ed . The man was bew i ld ered an d

a t a l oss wh a t to d o . He wal k ed arou nd th e mou n ta i n at short d is tanceand th e n ch an ged h i s m i n d a n d wal ked back to the p lace from wh i ch.

h e s tar ted . Here h e fo u n d (gastceelc i awa i t i n g h i m . The yay spokeno t a word , b u t poi n t ed down i n to t h e val l ey a n d l ed th e way th i th e r.A t th e bo t tom of th e val l ey they came to a grea t h ol e in th e grou n d 5.th e y

'

ay po i n ted i n a nd aga i n l ed th e way . A s they ad van ced i n to t h e

cave th e a i r grew warmer. In a l i t t l e w h i l e th ey d isco vered a b r igh t

404 THE MOUNTA I N CHANT .

fi re 011 wh i ch th ere w as n o wood . Fo u r pebbl es l ay o n th e grou n d to

ge th er : a bl ack pebbl e in th e e as t

,a bl u e on e in th e sou th , a ye l l ow

o n e i n th e wes t,a nd a w h i t e o n e in th e n or th ; from these the flam es

i ss u ed forth . Arou nd th e fi re lay fou r bears , col ored a n d pl a ced to cor

respond w i t h t h e p ebbl es . Wh e n th e s t ran gers approach ed th e fi re

th e bears ask ed th em fo r tobacco , and wh e n th e form er repl i ed tha t

t h ey h ad n o n e th e bears becam e a n gry and th ri ce m ore d eman ded i t .

W he n th e Navaj o fled from th e Ute cam p h e h a d h el ped h i m sel f from

one of th e fou r bags w h ich th e cou n c i l w as u s i n g a n d had take n a

p ipe,a nd th ese h e had t i ed u p i n h is sk i n rob e ; so wh en th e fou rt h

d em an d w as m ade h e fi l l e d th e p i pe and l i gh ted i t a t th e fi re . He

h anded th e p i pe to th e black bear,who

, t ak i n g b u t on e wh iff , passed i t.

to th e bl u e bea r and i m m ed i a tel y fel l s e n s e l ess . The bl u e bea r took

two wh i ffs a n d passed th e p i pe , w h e n h e too fe l l o ve r in a s ta t e of nu

c on sci ou sn ess . Th e yel l ow bear su ccu mbed afte r th e th i rd w h i tt, and

the wh i te bear,i n th e n o r th

,aft er th e fou rt h wh id

'

. Now th e Na vaj o

k n ock ed th e ash es a n d tobacco o u t o f h i s p i p e a n d ru bbed th e lat te r o n

th e fee t , l egs , abdomen , ch es t, sh o u ld e rs , fore h ead , a n d m ou th o f eachof th e bears i n t u rn

,an d th ey were a t on ce resu sci ta ted . He rep l aced

the p ipe in th e cor n e r of h i s robe . Whe n t h e bea rs recov ered th ey

a ss i gn ed to th e Na vaj o a p l ace 011 th e eas t s i d e o f th e fi re w h ere h e

m i gh t l i e a l l n i gh t,an d th ey bro ugh t o u t th e i r s tores o f corn m eal a n d

tc iltc in and o th e r berr i es and offe red th em to h im to eat; bu t Q astce'

elc i

warn ed h im n o t to to u ch th e food a n d aga i n d i sap pea red . So,h u n gry

.as h e w as , th e I n d ia n l ay d ow n su pper l e ss to sl eep . Wh e n h e wok ei n th e m orn i n g th e bears ag a in offe red food , w h i ch h e aga i n d ecl i n ed ,s ay i n g h e was n o t h u n gry . Th e n th ey sh owe d h im h o w to m ake th e

b ear kethawns o r s t i ck s to be sacr i ficed to th e bea r gods,a n d th ey

d rew from one cor n er of th e cave a grea t s h ee t o f cl o u d,wh i ch th ey

u n rol l ed , a nd o n i t were pa i n ted th e form s o f th e yays o f t h e cu l t i v a t ed

p lants . As h e d epar ted th e bears sa id ,

“ Th ere a re o th ers in th ese

p ar ts who h a ve secre ts to t el l yo u . Y o nd e r i s Tsenastc i,wh ere many

dwel l .” So h e set for th for Tsenastc i (C i rcl e o f R ed S to n es . )4 1 . As h e passed down th e v al l ey h e h eard a l o u d r u sh i ng n o i se be

h i nd h i m , a nd l ook i n g aro u nd h e beh el d a torn ado.

T he air was fi l l ed

w i th l ogs a n d u proot-ed trees,born e a l on g by th e grea t s torm . I t ea me

n eare r an d seemed to be ad van ci n g to des t roy h i m . He was terri fiedand cr i ed o u t to t h e s torm :

“ C iye’

i c ce , Dsily i‘Neyani .

I , RearedW i th i n t h e M ou n ta i n s . Who a r t Th e t empes t recogniz ed h i m and subs ided , and in i ts p l ace appea red fou r men in th e shape

o f th e glo'

i or w easel . The fou r w ea se l men sh owed h i m h o w to m ak ethe g

‘

lo’

i -b ikegan, o r sa cr ifici a l s t i ck s o f th e glo'

i . X’V hat n am e th e Navajo bore before th i s t i m e th e a n c i e n t tal e d oes not te l l u s ; b u t fromthe momen t h e sa id th ese words he w as cal l ed am on g th e gods Dsily i

‘

Neyani , an d was aft erwa rd s k n ow n by th i s n am e amon g h i s peopl e.

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406 THE MOUNTA IN CHANT .

44 . The n ext pl ace th ey reach ed on th e i r j o u rn ey was S i n“

hy-i tsoz i

(Narrow Sa nd Hi l ls). They en t ered the h i lland came t o th e h o u se o f

Katlu g i , th e B u t t erfly , a d wel l i n g fi l l e d w i t h b u t terfl i e s a n d ra i n

bows.Th ey fou n d Katlu g i and h i s w i fe s i tt i n g the re , an d al so A tsos

bebagani (Ilo n se of Feath ers ) , wh o wore bl ack l egg i n s . Here N i i to i

d i sappeared a nd th e wom an had to pu t h e r q u es t i o n s to th e Navaj o .

Sh e i nq u i red,as the o th ers h ad do n e , wh o h e was, an d h e b r iefly tol d

h er his s tory . Sh e arose,wen t o u t

,a n d prese n tly re tu rn ed w i th a la rge

bas i n m ad e o f a beau t i fulwh i te sh el l ; th is was fi l l ed w i th wat er an d

soap roo t . Sh e l a id i t before th e Navaj o , say i n g , Yo u are abou t to

v is i t some fa i r a n d beau t i fu l p eopl e , and i t i s prOpc r tha t yo u sh ou ld

ba t h e you r body a nd wash you r h a i r we l l .” Whe n h e h ad fi n i sh ed h i s

ba t h h e o f t h e ho u se of fea th ers took fi n e corn m ea l a n d appl ied i t to

th e feet,the k n ees

,th e abdom en

,an d th e o th e r parts of th e body w h i ch

are ii s u ally touch ed i n h eal i n g cerem o n ies . Then,u n d er th e d i rec t i o n s

of A tsos -bebagani , the Navaj o r ubbed h i s w ho l e body w i th m ealto d ry

h im se l f and pa i n ted h is face wh i te w i th gl ee (wh i te ear th ) . Hou se of

Fea th ers n ex t brough t i n smal l b u nd l es of th e fol l o w i n g pl an ts : tc il

(telgis i (G u tierrez ia. ea t/i a co i kal (A rtemc si a tr ij i da), tséj i , a nd

tlo ‘nascas i (Bo u tclu u a, h i rs u ta) , bu rn ed th em to ch arcoal,and d i re c ted

the I nd i a n to bl ack en h is l egs a n d forearm s w i t h t h i s s ubs tan ce . Wh e nth i s was d on e h e p u t spo t s of w h i te 011 th e b l ack , and , i n sh or t , pa i n ted

h im a s th e akaninili,o r cou r i e r (Fig . 52 ) s e nt o u t t o s u mmo n gu es ts to

th e d an ce,i s p ai n ted to th i s d ay i n th e ce rem on i es o f th e d s ily i dje

q acal.‘

N h en th e pa i n t i n g was do n e li atlu g i E sc z‘

i ya- (B u tterflyt ook hol d of h i s h a i r a n d pu l l ed i t dow n ward a n d s t re tch ed i t u n t i l i t

grew i n p rofu s i o n d ow n to h i s a n k l es . Th e n sh e p ressed an d work ed

h is body an d face al l o ve r u n t i l s h e m old ed h i m i n t o a. you th of th e mos t

beau t i fu l form an d fea tu re . They gav e him fine wh i te m occa s i n s and

a collar of beav er sk i n w i th a w h i s tl e a t tach ed to i t ; th ey p u t th e k it

bascan , o r pl u med s t i ck s to rep resen t w i ngs , 011 h i s arms , a nd al toge t h e r

d ressed an d ado rn ed h im as th e akaninili i s d ressed a nd ado rn ed . Th e

woma n gave h im wh i t e co r n m ea l m i xed w i th wa ter to ea t,a nd h e s l ep t

alln ig h t i n the h ou se of t h e b u t terfl i e s . In t h e m orn i ng t h e woma n (or

goddess , as we m igh t be tter cal l h e r) l a i d two s treak s o f wh i te l i gh tn i n g

o n th e gro u nd an d bad e h i m s tand o n th em w i th o n e foo t on each

s treak .

“ Now ,

” sh e sa i d,

“ th e w h i te l i gh t n i ng i s you rs ; u se i t h ow and

wh en you w i l l .” The n sh e tol d h i m to go to the top of t h e h i l l i n wh i chthe i r h ou se l ay . When h e ascen ded h e fo u n d an o th e r h ou se o n th e top

,

and i n i t h e aga i n m et Kaqflu gi an d h i s w i fe , wh o awa i t-ed h i m th ere .

He observed a s t reak of w h i te l i gh t n i n g t h a t Spa n n ed a broad va l l ey,

s t re t ch i ng from th e h i llon w h i ch h e s t ood to a d i s ta n t wooded m ou n t

a i n . There ,” sa i d Katlu gi Escaya , poi n t i n g to the l i gh t n i n g ,

“ i s th e

t ra i l \ o u m us t fol lo w . I t l ead s to yond er mou n ta i n,wh ic h i s n am ed

i istcagi .

“ m u m s-

4 M YTH : m s AD V ENTURE S A M ONG THE e ons . 407

45 . He fol lo wed th e l ig h t n i ng t ra i l a n d soo n a rr i ved a t t h e h o u se o f

E s t-san-(i gi n i (Holy XV oman). The h ou se was i n s i d e. o f a bl a ck m ou n t

a i n ; bu t th e l igh tn i ng e nded n o t u n t i l i t wen t qu i te i n to t h e dwel l i n g ;so h e h ad on ly to fol low i t to fi nd his way i n . Th e d oo r was o f t rees .

\V i th in, on th e e as t wallh u n g th e. s u n and on th e west wal l h u n g t he.

moon . Here h e was show n th e. kethawn wh ich i s ca l l ed Estsan-(i g’i n i

b ikecan, o r t he sacr i fici a l s t i ck of th e h ol y woma n , and was tol d ho w t o

m ak e i t an d h ow to b u ry it. As h e w as abou t to depa r t. from t h i s

p l ace two of th e w i n d gods an d th e bu t terfly god appea red to h im ,

an d th e whol e pa r ty of fo u r set o u t for Tc u c ka i (Ch u sca K n ol l o f o u r

geograph ers ) .

46. A t th i s p l ace th ey en t ered a h ou se w h ich was i n s id e o f the mou n t

a i n . It was two s tori es h igh ; i t had fou r rooms on th e fi rs t s tory a n d

fou r on th e secon d . I t h ad fou r doorways,wh ich we re covered w i th

t rees for doors ; in th e c ast was a b la ck Spru ce t ree , in t h e sou t h a. bl u e

spruce t ree, i n th e wes t a ye l l o w spr u ce t ree , and in t h e n or t h a w h i te

sh i n i n g sp ru ce t re e . Here d wel t fou r of th e Tc i ke-cac -natlehi (M a i d e n

t h a t Becom es a Bea r). The i r faces were w h i te ; the i r l egs a nd forea rms

w ere co vered w i th sh aggy ha i r ; th ei r h a nds were l i k e th o se o f h uma n

be i n gs ; bu t th e i r tee th were l on g a n d po i n ted . Th e fi rs t Tc i ke- cac -nz’

i t

l eh i,i t i s sa id

,h ad twel ve bro th e rs . Sh e le arn ed th e a r t of con ver t i n g

h ersel f i n to a hear from th e coyo te . Sh e was a grea t w arri o r and i a

v u l n erab l e . Wh e n she wen t to war sh e took o u t and h id h er v i tal

o rgan s , so tha t n o one co u l d k ill h er ; wh en th e ba t t l e was over she pu t

th em back in t he i r pl aces aga i n . Th e m aiden s sh owed him h ow to m ak e

fou r kethawns and tol d h i m how to bu ry th em i n o rder to properly

sacr i fice th em .

47. F rom Tc u ckai t h ey wen t to N i na. (V al l ey Su rrou n ded on

Al l Si des by H i l l s ), n ea r (L‘

epentsa, where th ey fo u n d t h e h ou se of the

Tsilké- «ti gi u i (Hol y You ng M en ), o f w hom th ere were fou r . There were,

in th e d wel l i n g,fou r room s , wh ich h ad n o t smoo th- wall s , b u t l ooked l i k e

room s i n a ca vern ; ye t t h e h ou se was made o f wa ter . A n u m be r of

p l u med a rrows (katso -

y i sgan) were h an g i n g on th e wal l s,a n d each

yo u n g m an (s ta n d i n g on e i n th e east, on e in t he sou th , one in th e wes t ,a nd o n e in th e n or t h ) h e l d s u ch an arrow in h i s ex te n ded r i gh t h a nd .

No kethawn was g i ven h im ; b u t h e was hi dd en to observe wel l h ow

th e h oly yo u n g w arr i o rs s tood,t hat h e m igh t i m i ta te th em i n the r i tes

h e sh ou ld es tabl i s h amo ngs t men .

48. Th e n ex t p lace t hey v is i t ed was Tse‘cadskagi (Rock tha t Ben ds

Back ) , wh ere they en tered a h ou se , str i ped w i th i n h or i z on ta l ly of m any

colo rs,and fou n d e i gh t more o f t h e Tsilke-(

t igi ni (Hol y You ng Men) .

Two s tood a t each card i n a l poi n t and each o n e g rasped a sap l i ngwh ich h e held ov er h i s u p tu rn ed m ou th , as i f abou t t o swa l l ow i t . One

of the you n g men add ressed h im,say i n g “ Do th u s . Them are e i gh t

of u s h ere ; b u t whe n yo u d o th i s in th e d an ce tha t y o u w i l l teach y ou r

peopl e yo u n eed n o t h ave e i gh t you n g m en— s i x w i l l be e n ou gh .

”

408 THE MOUNTA I N CHANT .

49 .F rom h ere th ey w en t to Tc étc el-hy itso (B ig Oak s ), to v i s i t the

n om e of (pigin-

yosini (yosini i s a spec i es o f sq u i rre l ) . I t was bu i l t o f

bl ack w a ter-sl i m e (graclig) a n d th e door was of red su nbeam s . On th e

eas t wal l h u ng a b ig bl ack l og ; o n th e so u th w al l , a bl u e l og ; on th e

wes t wal l,a y e l l ow l og ; an d o n th e n or th w al l , a wh i t e l og ; in wh i ch

logs th e sq u i rre l s d we l t . Al th o ugh th ey were squ i rre l s , th ey were

you n g me n a n d you n g wom en,and l ook ed very m u ch l i k e on e a n o th er .

Al l h ad red an d black s tri p es on th e i r back s . These taugh t h i m h ow

to mak e an d b u ry th e kethawns sacred to t h em sel ves .

50. Dsilninela‘(Las t M ou n tai n ) i s a co n i cal , sh arp po i n t ed em i n en ce ,sh aped l i k e a Navaj o h ogan or l od ge. I t i s bl ack an d h as wh i te s treak s

nning dow n i ts s id es . Th i s was th e n ex t pl ace th ey v i s i ted . Wi th inth e mou n ta i n was a hou se

,w hose door w as of dark n ess an d w as gu arded

by Teapani (t h e Bat ) and an an i mal cal l ed Q antsb (o f crep uscu l ar ornoc tu rnal h ab i ts) . Here d wel t m any you n g men and yo u n g women wh o

were sk u n k s (golij i ), a nd th ey ta u gh t th e Navaj o wand erer how to make

and h ow to bu ry th e kethawns wh i ch are sacred to th e sk u n k .

5 1 . Th e n ex t p l ace to w h i ch t h ey wen t wasDsil- n i k ici -ag i (M o u n ta i n

Comes Down S teep ), a n d h ere th ey fou n d t h e pl ace whe re Glo‘d silka‘

i

(Aber t’s sq u irrel

,S c iaru s aberti ) an d Glo

‘ds ilj ini d wel t . Whe n t he fou re n tered , th e squ i rrel s sa i d to th em :

“Wha t do yo u wa n t h ere ? Y o u

a re a l ways v i s i t i n g w h ere yo u are n o t wel com e .

” Th e god s rep l ied“ Be no t angry w i th u s . Th i s i s a Navaj o w ho was a cap t i v e amongth e U te

,b u t h e h as escaped a nd has su ffe red m u ch . I‘qcn

‘

i‘(th e Ligh t

n ing ) h as h id de n u s to tak e h i m to th e h omes of al l t h e (t-ig

‘

i n i (h ol y

on es,su per n a tu ral be i ngs ) ; th erefore w e h a ve bro ugh t h i m h ere .

” “ It

i s wel l,

” sa id th e sq u i r re l s ;“ b u t h e i s h u n gry an d m u s t h ave som e

food .

” Th ey brough t him p ihou n u ts,p i n e n u ts , spru ce nu ts , a n d serv

i ce berr i es ; h u t th e god s tol d h i m n o t to par tak e o f the n u ts o r hewoul d he ch anged i n to a squ i rrel , to e a t o n l y of th e serv i ce berr i es .Wh en h e h ad fi n i sh ed h i s m eal , th e squ i rre l s sh ow ed h i m h ow to make

two kethawns an d h o w to b u ry th em .

5 " Now N iltc i wh i spered :“ Le t u s go to Dsilya ic in

”

(Fou r Door

ways Under a M ou n ta i n ) , wh e re d wel l s (pasan i (th e Po rcu p i n e ) . H is.

hou se was i n a b l ack m ou n ta i n . A t t h e eas te r n d oorway th ere wa s a

bl ack sp ru ce t re e fo r a door . On th e o th e r s id es th ere w ere no doors

th e en tran ces w ere open . They fou nd h ere -fou r porcu p i n e gods,two

m al e an d two fem al e . Th ey wer e co lo red accord i n g to th e fou r ca r

d i nal h ues. Th e bl ack one s tood in th e eas t, the bl u e o n e in th e so u th ,the yel low o n e i n th e wes t

,an d th e w h i te one i n th e nor th . They i h

s t ru c ted h i m conc ern i ng th e kethawns of th e porcu p i n es,an d th ey

offered h i m food , wh ich co n si s ted o f th e i n n er bark o f d i ffere n t k i nd s o f

t rees . B u t aga i n , p rom p ted by N iltc i , h e refu sed th e food , say i n g th a t

h e was n o t able to ea t food of tha t k i n d . I t i s wel l,

” sai d t h e p o rc u »

p i n es,

“and n o w y o u may l e a v e u s .

MATTHEWS -l M YTH : THE ) IYSTERIES TH E GODS TEACH H I M. 409

53 .

“ Off in th i s d irect i o n ,” wh i spered N iltc i

,po i n t i n g to th e n ort h

eas t ,“ i s a. pl ace ca l l ed (Joeestso(WhereYellowS treak { 11 11s Down ). Le t

i 1s go t h i t h er .

” Here tl_1ey e 11 te'

red a h ou se of on e room,made of bl ack

wa t er . Th e doo r was o f w i n d . It was the h om e of Tc alni 11e'

.z (L ongFrog ), of o l i c ( a ter Snake ), o f Klic kz

‘

i (A 1 row Snak e ) , and o f other

se rpen ts a n d animal s o f th e wa te r . I t was cal l ed A llyéqtlti‘

egl‘

(ThevCam e T( hec 1 11 se h e re th e p rop he t of th e d s ily idje (jag is ited

the h om e of the s n ak es and l ea rn ed som e th i ng of th e i r mys ter i es .The

cerem oni e s sa cred to t h ese a n ima l s belong to a n o the r d a n ce, th a t of

th e qojoni -qaeal(ch a n t of t er res tr i a l bea u ty ) ; b u t in th e m y s te ri es

l ea rned i n A ht 114~

ec i‘ th e two ceremon i es are on e . Here he

‘

was i 1 i

s t ru ct ed h ow to m ak e a nd to sacrifice. fou r kethawns . To symbol i z e t h i s

v i s i t of Dsily i‘N eyani a n d th i s u n i o n of t h e two ceremo n i es

,th e fi rs t

sa n d p i c tu re i s m ad e . (See P l a te N V . )

54 . The nex t p lace th ey v i s i ted was A cank ike, wh ere th ere was a ho u se

b u i l t of th e wh i t e ro ck crys ta l , wi th a d o o r m ad e of a l l sor ts o f pl an ts .

It was ca l l ed Tsegaeinigini-hel

'

i ogan (Hou se of Rock C rys tal ) and wast h e home of Tc i ke-ci gi n i (Supern a tu ral Yo u ng \V oman, o rYou n gWoma n

Goddess ) , wh o was th e r ich es t of allthe ci gi n i . I n th e m idd l e of th e

floor s tood a l a rge cry s tal i n th e shape of a kethawn. Just as they we re

e n t er i n g , Q astceelc i , wh o h ad d i sappeared from th e Navaj o’s s igh t at

th e h ou se o f th e be ars,h e re rej o i n ed h im

,a n d th e par ty n ow n umbered

fi ve . The apart11 1e 1~

,1t wh e n th ey cam e i n to i t

,was v ery smal l

, b u t Oas

tce'

el-gi ble w on th e wa l l s , wh i ch ex te n ded th e i eat u n t i l th e room was on e

of grea t s i z e . Th e godd ess showed th e Navaj o h ow to mak e t wo hethawns a n d d i rected h i m how to d i spo se of th em .

55 . Then ce th ey j o u r n eyed to Ts i t se- i ntyeli (Broad C h erry Trees ) ,where

,i n a h ou se o f ch err ies w i t h a d oor o f l i gh t n i n g

,th ere l i ved fo u r

gods n amed Dsily i‘Neyani (RearedWi th i n t h e M ou n ta i n s ). The Na vaj o

was s u rpr i sed to fi n d th a t n o t only h ad t h ey th e sam e n am e as h e had,b u t

th a t t he y looked j u s t l i k e h im an d h ad c l o thes exac t l y th e same as h i s .H is compan io n s sa i d t o h im “ These a re th e god s in whose bea u ti fu l

for-m th e B u tt erfly goddess ha s molded yo u . These are t h e god s wh ose

n am e yo u h ear .

” Th e h os ts had e th e i r v i si to rs be sea ted,and t h ey

ran ged t h em se l ves arou nd t h e fi re,one at each of th e card i n a l po i n ts .

E ach h eld a n arrow made of th e c l iff rose (Cowam’

a mc x i c ana) in h i s

ex te n d ed righ t hand . Th e h ead of the arrow was of s ton e , th e d erch i ngo f eag l e fea t h e rs , a nd t h e breath

’

feather ” o f th e downy pl u m e o f t h e

Tsenahale (th e H 1 rpy o f Navaj o mytl1-o l og .y) As th ey h el d th e arrows

th ey ej acu l a ted,a i ‘

,a i ‘

,a i ‘

,a i ‘

,a s th ey w h o da n ce th e katso y isean

do in th e ceremo n i es t o th i s d ay , a n d after th e fo u i th a i‘ each o n e swal

l owed h is a rrow ,h ead foremos t

,u n t i l the fletc hing tou ched h i s l i p s .

Then h e w i thdrew t h e arrow an d they sa id :“ Th u s do we w i sh t he

Na vaj o to do i n th e da n ce wh ich yo u w i l l tea-c h them ; b u t th ey m ust

t ak e good c are not to break off th e a rrowh ead s w h en th ey swal l ow an d

w i th d ra w them .

” Such is th e ori g i n o f t h e dan ce of th e katso -

y isgan, or

4 10 THE MOUNTAIN CHANT .

grea t p l um ed a rrow. A s th ey bad e h i m good -bye , o n e of th em sa i d to

th e Navajo : we l ook fo r you,

” i . e . ,

“ Vt’

e ex pec t you to re tu rn to u s ,”

a n i n t imat i o n t o h im th a t wh e n h e l e ft th e ea r th h e sh ou l d re tu rn t o

th e god s,to d wel l amon g th em forev e r .

56.From th i s p l ace th ey j ou rn ey ed on u n t i l th ey reach ed A gad sil

(Lea f M ou n ta i n ), and fou nd t h e h ou se th a t wa s m ade of d ew -d rops

an d t h a t h ad a door mad e o f pl a n ts of many d i ffe re n t

k i nd s.Th i s was t h e h ome o f th e B itses ninéz (Lon g Bod ies ), who

were goddesses . W he n th ey rose , as th e s tra n gers e n t ered , th e pl u m es

0 11 the i r h ead s seem ed to to uch th e h e a ve n s , t h ey w ere so very ta l l .

Th e godd esses sa id to Ds ily i‘Neyani , We g i ve you n o kethawn, b u t l ook

a t u s wel l and rem ember h ow w e app ear , fo r i n yo u r ce rem on i es you

m us t d ra w ou r p i c t u re ; ye t d raw u s n o t , as we now s ta n d , in th e eas t

th e sou th,th e wes t

,and th e n or th ; b u t d raw u s as i f w e al l s tood in t h e

ea s t .” Th i s i s the or i gi n of th e secon d p i c tu re th a t i s pa i n ted 01 1 th e sa nd .

(P l a t e X V I. )57. Leav i ng th e Hou se of Dew th ey proceed ed to Q onakai

‘

(Wh i t eTV ater Ru n n i n g Across ). Thi s was a s tream w h i ch ran dow n th e s id e

of a h i l l a n d h ad i ts sou rce in a grea t spri n g . I m m ed i a te ly abo ve th i s

sp r i n g was th e h om e of Q astceelc i . The la t ter , as t h ey approach ed h is

home,s topp ed a t th e foo t of th e h i l l and fo u r t i m es ordered h i s com

pan io n s to go i n ad vance ; bu t fou r t i m es th ey refu sed . A fter th e l as t

refu sal Q astc e'

élgi c lapp ed h i s hand s , u ttered his cry of h u ‘h u ‘h u‘

and l ed th e w ay . Th e h ou se w as of cor n p ol l en ; th e door was of d ay

l i gh t ; th e ce i l i n g was s u ppor ted by fou r w h i te sp ru ce t rees ; ra i n bows ra n

in e very d i rec t i o n a n d m ad e th e h ou se sh i n e w i th i n w i th th e i r br i gh t

an d beau t i fu l col o rs . Ne i th er kethawn n o r cerem ony was sh own the

Navaj o h ere ; bu t h e was al l o wed to ta rry fou r n i gh ts a n d was fed w i t h

an ab u nd an ce of w h i te co rn m eal a n d cor n pol l e n .

58. Now Q astceelei took h i m to a p l ace cal l ed L ejpah igo (B row n Eart h

Wa ter ) a n d l ed h im to th e top of a h i gh h i l l,fro m wh ich they cou l d see

i n t h e far d is tan ce Gangieo , w h ere th e p rop h et’s fam i ly dwel t ; for th ey

h ad moved away from th e v al l ey i ntbepéntsa, w he re h e l eft th em . Then

th e yay sh owed h im th e sh or tes t roa d to tak e a n d bad e him re t u rn

to h i s peop l e .

59 .

-V h en h e go t w i th i n s i gh t of h i s h ouse h i s peop l e m ad e h i m s top

an d tol d h i m n o t to app roach n earer u n t i l th ey h ad su mmon ed a Navajo

shama n . Whe n th e l a t ter , w hose nam e w as Red Q u eu e , cam e , ceremo n i es w ere performed o ver th e re tu rn ed wa n d erer

,a nd h e was wash ed

from h ead t o foo t and d r i ed w i th cor n m eal ; for th u s do th e Navaj o

t rea t al l w h o re tu rn to the i r hom es from c apti vi ty wi th a n o th er t r i be ,in orde r th a t allal i e n s ubs tan ces an d i nfl uen ces m ay be removed fromth em . Wh en h e h ad bee n th u s p u rified h e e n tered t h e h ou se a n d h ispeopl e embraced h im a nd wep t o ver him . B u t to h i m th e odo rs o f t he

l odge were n ow i n tol e rabl e an d h e soo n l eft th e h ou se and sat o u ts i d e .

See i ng th i s , th e shaman gave i t as h i s op i n i o n th a t th e p u ri fica t i o n al

mm nz ws . ) M YTH : H IS RETURN TO H IS PEOPLE . 4 1 1

ready mad e was n o t su ffi c i e n t , and t ha t i t wou l d b e wel l to h a ve a grea t

da n ce over h i m . In th o se days the Navaj o h ad a h ea l i n g da n ce i n

the d ark corr al ; bu t i t was i m perfec t , w i th few song s an d no kethawnso r sa cr ifi c i a l s t i ck s . I t was not u n t i l Dsily i

‘ Neyani reco u n t ed h i s re ve

l u t i o n s t ha t i t becam e th e great da n ce i t n o w i s among t h e Navaj o .

(30. I t was ag re ed th a t before th e dance bega n Ds ily i‘Neyani sh ou ld

be a l l owed fo u r d ays and fo u r n igh ts i n w h i ch to te llh is s tory and

th a t th e med i c i n e m a n sh o u l d sen d o u t a n u mber of you n g m e n t o co l

l ec t th e p la n t s th a t were n ecessa ry for the com i n g ceremony . For

fou r n i gh t s and for fou r d ays h e was bu sy i n rel a t ing h i s ad ven t u res

and i n s t ru ct i n g h i s h ea re rs i n a l l t h e myster i es h e h ad l ear n ed i n t h e

homes o f the tig i u i . Th e n th ey bu i l t t h e m ed i c i n e l odge a n d go t allth i n gs ready fo r th e new r i tes and for t h e p u rifi c ationo f th e on e wh o h ad

ret u rn ed . Th e sh am a n sel ec ted from amon g th e p la n t s brough t h i m by

th e y o u n g men su ch a s h e th ough t wou ld bes t cl ea n se h i s pa t i e n t of

allth e s trange food h e h ad take n am on g t h e a l i e n I n d ia n s a n d i n the

h ou ses of th e s upern a t u ra l on es w hom h e h ad v i s i ted . 0 11 t h e fi rs t d ayh e gave h i m p i n e and sp ru ce ; o n t h e secon d d ay , b ig a nd l i t t l e w i l l ows ;on t he th i rd d ay , a pl a n t cal l ed L i t e l an d th e a romat i c s u mac ; o n th e

fou r th day , ceda r a n d p inon . Of t h ese t h e p roph e t d ra n k co ld a nd h o t

i n fus i o n s in th e m orn i n g by th e fi re .

61 . Du ri n g t hese fou r days t h e ceremo n i es w h i ch Ds ily i‘Neyan i h ad

i n t rod u ced were i n progress . On t h e fi fth day i t was proposed th eysh ou l d se n d ou t th e akaninili (meal spri n k l er) or cou ri e r to i n v i te th e i r

nei gh bors to t h e g rea t dan ce . There w ere two cou ri ers to be se n t : one

was to go to th e n o rth , to a pl ace ca l l ed Q ogoj ila‘(M u ch G rea seW

’ood ),to i n v i t e som e fr i e nd ly ba nd s of U t e , som e d i s t-a n t ba nd s of Navaj o , a n d

som e J i car i l l a w ho dwel t t h e re ; th e o t her was to go to th e sou th , to

Tse‘l aka’

i -sila(Where TwoW h i t e Rock s L ie ), to ask th e Sou th e rn Apach e ,t h e M o u n ta i n Apache , t h e Cohonino , an d a t r i be ca l l ed ¢ ildjehe ,to a tte n d . To th e cam p in th e n orth i t was a j ou rn e y of tw o days andtwo ni gh ts , an d i t wou ld tak e th e fieetes t ru n n e r th e same t i m e to re tu rn .

To th e h om e of the i r n e i gh bors i n th e sou t h i t was as fa r . As th ese l on g

jou rn e y s m u s t be m ade 011 foo t an d ru n n i n g , th ey cou ld n o t fi n d a

s i n gl e you n g m a n in th e camp wh o wou l d vo l u n teer fer th e task . Th e

m e n cou n sel ed abou t th e d i ffi cu l ty a l l day a n d t r i ed m u ch pers uas i o n

o n th e yo u t hs,bu t none were fou n d w i l l i n g to mak e e i th er j o u rn ey .

62 . A s n i gh t a pp roach ed a n o l d woma n e n tered th e m ed i c i n e l odge

a nd sa i d : I w i l l se n d my gra nd so n as an akaninili .” Th i s o ld woma n ’s

lodge was n o t fa r from w h ere th e m ed i ci n e l odge was b u i l t an d a l l

p rese n t k new h er g ra n dso n w el l . W'

h en e ve r they v i s i ted h er l od ge h e

w as al wa y s ly i n g on the grou n d asl eep ; th ey n ev er saw h im go abroad

to h u n t,a n d th ey al l s u pposed h im to be l azy a n d wor th l ess ; so wh en

sh e m ad e h er offe r th ey on ly l ook ed a t on e a n o th er a n d l aughed . Sh e

w ai ted aw h i l e,an d get t i n g no respon se she agai n offered th e serv i ces

of h e r gran dson,on ly to p rovoke aga i n l au gh t er an d s i gn i fica n t l ooks .

«1 1"7 THE M OUNTA IN CHANT .0-4

A th i rd a n d a fou r t h t i m e sh e m ade her p roposa l , and th e n sh e said

Why do you no t at l eas t a n swer m e i? I ha ve sa id th a t I w i l l l e t. my

g rand son tak e you r m essages to on e of these cam ps and you laugh at

m e a nd tha n k m e n o t . TV

hy i s t h i s ?” Hear i n g h er word s , th e ch i ef

m ed i c i n e man,wh o cam e from a d i s tan t cam p and d id no t know h e r

,

asked th e m en wh o were p rese n t w ho th e woma n was a nd w h a t sor t of

a you n g ma n h e r grand so n was ; bu t aga i n th e m e n lau gh ed a n d d id

n o t an swe r h i m e i th er .

’

He tu rned to th e ol d wom an a n d sa id : “ Br i n g

h i th e r you r gran d so n , that I may see h im .

” Th e woman an swered : “ I t

i s a l ready l a te ; the n igh t i s fal l ing an d th e w ay i s l on g . I t i s o f no u se

for you to see h im to - n igh t ; l e t u s wa i t u n ti l th e m orn i ng .

” “ V ery wel l,

”

. aid th e sh am an ;‘4 br i n g h i m a t daw n to -morrow .

” Sh e le ft the l odge

p rom i s i n g to do as sh e was hid den ; a n d th e momen t s h e was go n e th e

l ong su ppressed merr i me n t of th e m e n broke for th . Th ey alll a u gh ed

i nord i n a tely,m ade m any j ok es abou t th e l azy gra nd so n

,a nd tol d the

med i c i n e m a n th a t th ere was n o u se i n se n d i ng su ch a person w i th th e

message w h e n th e bes t r u n n ers amon g th em d i d n o t d are to u nder tak e

the jo u rney . He i s too weak and l a zy to h u n t,” sa i d th ey ; “ h e l i ves

011 seed s amln ev er t as tes fl esh .

”

63 . As soo n as there w as l i g h t e n ou gh in th e m orn i n g to d iscer n ob

jec ts , a m an who was l ook i n g o u t o f the door of the m ed i c i n e l odge cr i ed

o u t,

“ He com es,

” a n d t h ose i n s id e l a ugh ed a n d wa i ted . P rese n tly Tla

resei ni (su ch was the n am e of the ol d wom an’s grandson ) e n tered a n d

sat dow n n ear th e fi re . Al l l ooked a t h i m in as ton i s h men t. W' h en l as t

th ey saw h im h i s h a i r w as sh or t an d m a t ted,as i f i t h ad n o t bee n

combed or wash ed for th ree y ears,and h i s form was l ean a n d ben t. N ow

h e appeared w i t h t h i ck gl ossy looks th a t fel l bel o w h i s k n ee ; h i s l i m bs

we re l a rge an d fi rm l ook i n g ; h e hel d h i s h ead erec t and wal ked l i k e a

you t h of cou rage ; and m any sai d to o n e an o th er,“ Th i s can no t be th e

sam e m an .

” In a l i t tl e w h i l e a n o th e r you n g m a n n am ed Inds iskai’

(Rad i a t i n gWh i t e S treaks ), as fa i r a n d robu s t as th e fi rs t , e n t ered and sa t

down by the fi re 011 th e s i d e oppos i te to wh e re Tlaeesci ni sat. Th e w h i te

ear th and th e ch arcoa l fo r p a i n t i n g th e akaninili were a l ready p re

p ared ; so som e of th e you n g men i n th e l odge , whe n th ey beh eld th i s

pai r of fine cou ri ers,aros e w i th ou t a word of d eba te a nd began to pa i n t

t h e l a t te r an d to adorn th e i r p erso n s fo r the jo u rney . VV he u th e to i l e twas don e

,th e m ed i c i n e man sen t th e co u r i e rs forth w i th many m ess ages

and i nj u n ct i o n s an d to l d th em to b l o w on th e i r w h i s tl e s fo u r t i m es before they go t o u t of h ear i n g of th e l od ge . Tla-eesei ni wen t to th e n or th

a n d lnd s iskai'

to th e so u th,an d th ey w al ked so sl ow ly th a t al l th e spec

tato rs aga in l au gh ed a n d m ade m erry , and m any sa i d : “ They w i lln e ve r rea ch th e cam ps w h i th er w e ha ve se n t th em .

” They passed o u t

of si ght j u s t before the s u n ros e . Th ose w h o rema i n ed i n camp p repared

t o amu se them sel ves . They cl eared th e gro u n d for t h e game of nanj oj ,and brough t o u t

“ th ei r s t i ck s an d h oops . Som e sa id :“ Y

V

e w i l l h a ve

pl en ty o f t i m e for p l ay befo re th e cou riers re turn .

” O th e rs sai d : “A t

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

4 1 4 THE M OUNTA I N CHANT .

66. “ The n Tlatlsesei ni had don e Speak i ng , Ind s iska'

i gave t h e fol l o w i n g

a ccou n t of h i msel f : “ It was b u t a l i t t l e w h i l e a fter su n r i se wh e n I

reach ed Tse ‘l a kai -s i laand en t ered t h e cam ps o f th e fo u r tribes . I n one

they we re j u s t tak i n g som e. n oea‘ ou t o f a p i t

,an d t h ey g ave m e these

p ieces wh i ch I b ro u gh t h om e . I e n tered th e l odge of a m ed i c i n e ma n in

eac h t r i be,sca t t ered on h i m t h e sac red m eal , a nd a n n ou n ced to h i m

whe n ou r da n ce wou ld tak e place . They allprom i sed to be h ere w i th

t h e i r peopl e on the end of th e th i rd day , wh i ch w i l l b e o n th e n i gh t we

h ol d o u r cerem ony .

”

67. Wh e n th e akaninili s cam e to tel l th e i r ad ven t u res to t h e med i

c i n e m an,th ey were beau t i fu l ly a t t i red . They wore e arr i n gs a n d nec k

l aces of tu rq u o i se,coral

,and rare sh el l s . Th ey had o n embro id ered

blan k e ts of a k i n d we see n o l o nger , bu t th e god s wore t hem i n th e e u

c ien t d ay s . Th ey ru s t l ed l i k e d ry l ea ve s . Th e bl an k e t of o n e was

black a nd t h a t of th e o th er was wh i te . Whe n th ey cam e o u t o f th e

m ed i ci n e l od ge th ey we n t a ro u n d amon g th e h u t s an d i n c losu re s of those

wh o were assem bl ed , v i s i t i n g th e w i ves an d th e s wee t-h earts o f th e s i l l y

men wh o h ad l au gh ed a t th em i n th e morn i n g ; a n d e verywh ere th e

wome n sm i l ed on th e bea u t i fu l a n d wel l d ressed yo u t h s . Th e n ex t

morn i n g th e men l au gh ed a nd snee red a t th em n o more,n or wh ispered

in t he i r p rese n ce , b u t glan ced a t th em w i th su l ky or sh amefaced. l ooks .Du r i n g th e d ay th e akaninilis took pa r t in t h e gam e of tiau joj w i t h

those wh o onc e jeered a t th em , an d wo n m an y ar t i cl e s o f g rea t va l u e .

68. On th e afte rn oon of th e th i rd day follo w i n g th e o n e on wh i ch th e

akaninilis m ad e t he i r j o u rn eys , a grea t cl o ud of d u s t was observed o n

th e n or th er n h orizo n a n d a s i m i l a r c l ou d was see n i n th e so u th . They

g rew grea t er an d cam e n ea re r. an d th e n th e i n v i ted I n d ian s bega n to

arri v e from bo th d i rec t i o n s . Th ey co n t i n u ed to com e i n grou ps u n t i l

n igh tfal l , wh en a grea t m u l t i t ud e h ad assembl ed to w i tn ess th e da n ce.

After th e guests bega n to arr i v e th e you n g men se t to work to cu t t reesfo r th e corra l , a nd wh e n t h e su n h ad set t h e b u i ld i n g of th e dark c i rcl e

of b ran ch es began . IV h ile th e you n g men were m ak ing t h e c i rcl e th eol d m en were m ak i n g Speech es to th e m u l ti t u d e

,for th e o ld m en al ways

l o v e to tal k wh e n th e you n g m e n are h ard a t work . I t was th e grea tes t

corralth a t h as ever bee n bu i l t in th e Na vaj o cou n try . I t was as b road

as from Cano n Bon i to to “ th e Hays tack s ” (a d i s ta n ce o f ab ou t s i xm i l es ) , ye t th e v i s i t i n g tr i bes were so n u m e rou s th a t th ey fi l l ed th e c i rcl e

fu l l . In th e m ean t i m e th e sou nd s o f s i n g i ng a n d of th e d ru m werehea rd alla rou nd , fo r m any d i ffere n t par t i es o f d a n cers , w ho were to tak epar t i n th e n igh t’s e n terta i nm e n t

,were reh ears i ng .

69 . There was som e delay afte r th e i n c l os u re was fi n i sh ed before th e

fi rs t. da ncers m ad e th ei r appearan ce . A man e n tered th e corra l a n d

m ad e a speech begg i n g th e atsale'

i,o r fi rs t da n cers

,t o ha sten

,a s th ere

were so ma ny part i es from a d i s tan ce wh o w i sh ed to perfo rm d u r ing th e

n igh t . Soo n after h e h ad spoken,th e two atsale

'

i who l ed in the dan ce

o f th e grea t pl u m ed a rrow en tered,and after them came s i x m ore

,a nd

MA TTHEWS -l M YTH : THE F IR ST M OUNTA IN CHANT . 41 5

pe rform ed th i s h eali n g d a n ce over Ds ily i‘Neyani as i t i s pe rform ed to

th i s d ay . (See p aragraph Wh e n th i s was con cl uded v ar io u s grou psfrom am on g t h e s t ran gers e n t ered , on e a ft e r an o th e r , and con d uc ted t he i r

d i ffere n t alilis,or sh ows , wh i ch th e Navaj o th en l earn ed and h a ve s i n ce

pract i ced wh e n th ey s i n g t h e i r son gs in th e d ark c i rc l e o f bra n ch es .

70. Whe n th e da nce bega n in th e ev en i n g t he re was one o f th e i n v i tedt r ibes w h ich , i t was n o t i ced , h ad n o t arr i ved . Th i s was th e Beqai , o r

J icari l l a . The Nava jo a sk ed t h e U t e w here th e m i ss i n g ones were , an d

the U t e a n swe red tha t th ey h ad passed t h e J i “

ari l l a on theway ; th a tth e l a t ter w ere com i n g , bu t h ad s topped to p lay a game o f ro u l e tte

,o r

nanjoj , an d were th u s de layed . Sh or t ly befo re d aw n the J icar i l l a came

and e n t ered the corra l to ex h i bi t th e i r al i l i o r sh o w . I t was a d anc e of

the na.

“

j oj , for the wa nds and i m p l em e n ts of th e dan ce w ere th e s t ick s

and wh eel s u sed i n p lay i n g th a t ga me .

7 1 . Dur i n g th e n i gh t a ch i e f o f t h e Navajo , wh i l e w al k i n g th rough

the crowd,obser ved t he gra n d mo t h er o f Tla-(tesci ni s i t t i n g on t h e gro u nd .

He approach ed h er a n d sa i d : Yo ur gran d so n a n d h i s fr i e n d h av e don e

a grea t. d eed for u s ; th ey h ave m ad e a l o n g j ou rn ey . M an y d ou b ted

w he th er th ey h ad real l y m ade i t u n t i l w e saw th e m u l t i tud e ga t heri n g

i n ou r cam p from th e n orth a n d from th e sou t h i n obed i en ce to th e i r

s u mmon s . Now we k now t h a t th ey h ave spok e n t h e t ru t h . Tel l m e,I

beg y o u ,how th ey d id th i s won derfu l t h i ng .

” Sh e a n sw ered :“ They

a re (ti gi u i . M y grandson fo r m an y years h as r i sen ear l y ev ery m orn

ing an d ru n allaro u n d Tshtsil(M ou n t Tay lor , or S an M a teo ) o ver and

over a gain before su n r i s e . Th i s is why t h e peopl e h ave n ev e r see n h i m

abroad d u ri n g th e day , bu t ha ve see n h i m as l eep in h i s h ogan . Aro u n d

t h e base of_

s i s i l are many tse‘na‘dj i hi (heaps o f sacr i fic ia l s ton es ) .

These were al l m ad e by my gra ndso n ; h e d rOps a s to n e o n o n e. of th ese

p i l es e very t i m e h e goes ro u nd th e m ou n ta i n .

”

72 . Wh e n day bega n to dawn th e re were y e t severa l pa r t i es wh o

came p repa red to g i v e ex h i b i ti o n s,b u t h ad n o t h ad a ch an ce ; s t i l l , a t t h e

approach of d ay th e ceremo n i es h ad t o cease . A t th i s t i m e,before t h e

v i s i tors bega n to l eav e th e corra l,t he Navaj o ch i ef w ho h ad spok en

w i t h th e g ra n dmo ther a rose an d add ressed t h e assembl y . H e told

th em al l h e k n ew abo u t th e sw i ft cou r i e rs a n d al l t h e gran dmo t h er h ad

to ld h im . He rem arked th a t th e re were y e t. many w h o cou l d n o t b e

l i e ve tha t th e you n g men h ad m ade t h e j o u r n ey ; so , to sa t i sfy a l l , h e

p roposed th a t w i th i n twel ve days th ey sh o u ld h a ve a race be twee n th e

two fl ee t akaninili aro u nd t h e base o f s tsil, i f al l wo u ld agree to re

a ssembl e to w i tness i t,an d h e begged them to i n v i te th e i r n e igh bors o f

the P ueblo a n d o th er t r i bes t o com e w i th th em . The n o th er ch i efs.

arose to Speak . In t he end th e p ropos i t i o n o f the Navaj o ch i ef was

agreed to . Al l p rom i sed to re t u rn w i th i n el e ve n d a y s and d ec id ed tha t

th e race sho u l d take p l ace o n th e m orn i n g fo l l ow i n g . The n t hey d i s

persed to th e i r h omes .

4 16 TH E M OUNTA IN CHANT

73 . t) u th e after noo n of th e el e ve n th . d ay , wh e n they had reassembl ed

acco rd i ng t o t h e i r p ro m i ses , t h e Na vaj o ch i e f a rose a n d add ressed th em .

He i n v i ted th e ch i efs o f’

t h e o th er tr ibes to com e fo rward a n d comp l e t e.

th e a rra n gem en ts for th e race . So th e h ead me n allcam e toge t h er a t.

the pla ce wh ere the Na vaj o was speak i n g , and , after some c ons u ltatim i ,th ey agreed th a t th e race sh ou l d be a rou n d th e peak of Tsots il, bu t. n o t

a ro u n d th e en t i re range o f m ou n tai n s . Th e Navaj o separa ted t h em ~

se l ves i n to o n e party a n d th e a l i e n t r i bes i n to a n o th er , t h e two par t i e s

s ta nd i n g at a l i t t l e d i s tance fro m on e an o th er . Th e a l ie n s were g i v e n

t h e fi rs t ch oi ce,a nd th ey chose Ind siska

'

i ; th erefore Tlaeesci ni fel l to theNa vaj o . The n th e be t t i n g bega n . The s tak es con s i s ted of s t r i n gs of

coral,tu rq uo ise

,and sh e l l be ad s

,of v essel s o f sh el l s as la rge a s th e

ear th e n bas i n s of th e Z uni,o f

“

bea u t i fu lly ta n n ed bu ck sk i n s,o f

‘

d resses

embro id ered w i th col ored porcu p i n e q u i l l s,a n d of s u i ts o i

'

a rmor mad e

of severa l l ayers of b u cksk i n . Th e warri ors i n those days wore su c h

arm or,b u t t h ey wea r i t n o l o nger . Th e bead s a n d sh el l s were l a id in

on e p i l e ; th e b uck sk i n s , th e embro id ered d resses , and the armor i n

a no th er ; a nd th e p i l es were of vas t. si z e .

74 . The homes of th ese yo u n g men were at Kag: -sakfr¢ tse

‘

gqa (Lon e

Ju n i per S tand i ng Be twee n C l iff'

s ), n ow Gob ero C t-lfiOll. The re i s see n

to d ay a rock shaped l ik e a Nav aj o h ogan . I t s ta nd s near th e wago n

road a n d no t far from th e to w n of th e M ex ica n s (Gobe ro ) . Th i s rock

was on ce th e h u t wh ere Tlaeesci ni d wel t . No t fa r from i t i s a not h er

rock of s im i la r appearan ce,wh i ch on ce was th e h om e of Ind siska

'

i . Fo r

t h i s re aso n th e ru n n ers we re s tar ted a t th e Lo n e Ju n i p er . Th ey ran

t oward s th e wes t a nd fi ve o f th e flee tes t r u n n ers amo n g th e assemb led

Ind ian s se t ou t a t th e sam e t i m e to see how l o n g th ey cou ld k eep u p

w i t h th em . By th e t i m e th ese fi ve men h ad r each ed the spu r of the

mou n ta i n oppos i te gosnge (Ho t Spr i n g , () j o d e l os Gallinos, S an Rafael ), t h e two ch am p ion s w ere ou t o f sigh t . Th e n th e five t u rn ed back ;bu t before they cou l d retu rn to th e Lo n e Ju n i p e r th e ru n n ers h ad go t

nd th e race was dec id ed . Tlattesei ni h ad wo n by abou t tw ice t h e

le n g t h of h i s own body , and al l th e wagered weal t h of th e o the r n a ti o n s

pa ssed i n to th e h a nd s of t h e Navaj o .

Wh en al l was d on e th e s tran ge rs were d i ssa t i sfied ; th ey mou rn ed

ove r the i r l osses and talk ed abou t th e w hol e affa i r amon g t h em se l ves

for a l o n g t i m e . F i n a l l y th ey dec id ed to gi v e th e Navaj o a n o th er

ch al l en ge i f th e l at ter wo u l d agree to a l o n ger ra cecou rse , wh i ch sh ou ld

i n cl u d e al l th e foo th i l l s o f th e Sa n M a t eo ran ge . The Navaj o accep ted

t h e ch al l en ge and agreed to h a ve th e race a t t h e en d of a n o t h e r twel ve

d ays . E a rly on th e e l e ve n th day th e s tran ge rs bega n to a ssembl e

from al l q u a r ters ; th ey co n t i n u ed to arr i v e a l l d ay,a nd whe n n igh t

fe l l th ey were al l i n. The n th e h ead m e n add ressed t h em,ex pl a i n i n g

allthe cond i t i o n s of t h e ch al l e n ge a n d d escr i b i n g ca refu l ly t he race

co u rse dec id ed o n . The be t t i n g (lid n o t ru n as h i gh t h i s t i m e a s be fore .

nar rnsws ] M YTH : THE TRANS L ATTON OF THE PROPHET . 4 1 7

Th e Na vaj o be t on ly abou t on e - h al f of wh a t. th ey wo n on t h e fo rmer

race . A ga in th ey s ta r t ed th e t wo ru n n ers , a n d in su ch t i m e as yo u

cou ld j u s t m ark th a t. t h e su n had m ov ed , th ey we re back a t. th e goal“

b u t th i s t i m e Ind s iska'

i,t h e ch amp io n of th e a l i e n races

,won by abou t

th e sam e d i s ta n ce a s h e h ad los t. on th e p rev io u s occa s i o n .

76. Th e n th e s t rangers were sa t i sfied a nd sa i d,We w i l l t ry n o m ore .

M any of ou r goods are s t i l l w i t h th e Navaj o ; bu t we have d on e w el l

to resc u e wh a t we h a v e .

” One o f th e w i se m e n among them said,

“ Yes ,

you h ave don e wel l,for had yo u l os t t h e secon d race you wou l d h ave l os t

w i th i t t h e rai n an d th e su n sh i n e and allth at mak es l i fe g l ad .

” I t. i s

beca u se th e Navaj o won so m uch w eal th on th i s occas i o n t h a t th ey

h a ve been r ich er t h a n the n ei gh bori n g races e ve r s i n ce .

77. The ceremony cu red Dsily i‘ Neyani o f allh i s s t range fee l i n gs

and no t i o n s . Th e l odge of h i s peopl e n o l on ger sm ell ed u n pl easa n t to

h i m . B u t ofte n h e wou l d say,

I k n ow I ca n n o t be w i t h y o u al ways ,for th e yays v i s i t m e n igh tl y i n my s l eep . In my d reams I am onc emore

amon g them,an d they beg m e to re tu rn to th em .

”

78. From L ejpah ico th e fam i ly m oved to Ds ildjoltc inq' i (M ou n ta i n of

Ha tred ). Th en ce th ey wen t to Ts inb ilah i (Woods o n On e S ide), and fro mt h ere to Tse‘y u gahia

‘

(S ta nd i n g Rock Above ) . I n t h i s p l ace th ey encam ped bu t o n e n i gh t , a nd n ex t day th ey m o ved to Qlepe-agatt (Sheep

P rom o n tory ) , an d wen t o n to (l‘epe¢asi¢i (On e Sheep Ly i n g Dow n ). Here

aga i n th ey camped fo r th e ni gh t . Nex t day th ey t ra v el ed by Tse‘atc al

gal i (Rock C rac k ed in Two ) to Tc oyajnask ig (H i l l S u rrou n ded W’

i th

You n g Spru ce Trees ), to Nigaqokafi (Wh i te a n d to Tse‘y i stc i¢(Dipp i n g Rock s , i . e .

, d i pp i n g s t ra ta ) , wh ere th ey s topped to res t for th e

ni gh t . On th e foll ow i n g day they j o u rneyed to Q osakaz i (C o ld Wa ter ) ,i n wh i ch p la ce th ey en camped aga i n .

79 .

‘Nh e n the morn i n g cam e , Dsily i‘ Neyani sa i d to h i s yo u n ger

b ro th e r,Le t u s go ou t an d t ry to sh oo t som e d eer , so th a t we may

mak e beea‘(deer m as k s ) , s u ch as we wo re i n (L

‘

epéntsa, wh ere w e k i l l ed

so many deer .

” The bro th ers d epar ted on th e h u n t and cam e to a p l ace

call ed Us i l - l ij i n (Bl ack Mounta i n s ), an d th ey sa t dow n o n th e s i d e of

th e m ou n ta i n s l ook i n g towa rds TsOtsi I. As th ey sa t th ere Ds ily i‘Ne

yan i sa id,

“ You nger b ro t h er,b eh ol d t h e ¢ igi n i !

”

(hol y on es ) ; bu t th e

you n ger broth er cou l d se e no o n e . Then h e spok e aga i n,

“ Fa rewel l,

you n ger bro the r ! F rom th e h o l y pl a ces th e god s com e for me. Yo u

w i l l nev er see me aga i n b u t wh e n t h e sh owers pass an d th e th u n d e r

pea l s,

‘The re,

’ you w i l l say ,‘i s th e v o i c e o f my elder b ro th er

,

’and

wh en t h e h arv es t com es,o f th e beau t i fu l b i rd s a n d grassh oppe rs yo u

w i l l say There is th e order i n g o f my eld er b ro th er .’

80. As h e sa i d th ese word s h e va n i sh ed . The you nge r bro th er l ook ed

al l a ro u nd,a n d see i n g n o o n e h e s tar ted for h is h om e . Wh en h e re

t u rn ed to h i s peop l e h e told t h em of th e d epa rt u re o f Ds ilvi ‘Neyani ,an d t h ey m ou rn ed as for on e d ead .

5 ETH— 27

THE M OUNTA IN CHANT.

TH E C E R EM ON I E S OF D S I L Y I'

DJE Q A cAL .

81 . It h as been my l o t to se e porti o n s of th ese ceremo n i e s a t var i o u st i m es

.Th e m os t com pl e t e V i ew I h ad of th em was d u r i n g a v i s i t made

to a pl ace ca l l ed N iqotli z i (H a-rd E ar th ) , som e twen ty m i l es n or th wes t

from For t Wi n ga te , New M ex i co,an d j u s t w i th i n th e sou ther n bou nd

ary o f t h e Na vaj o Rese rva t i o n . Th i s wa s th e on ly occas i on whe n I

ob ta i n ed fu l l a ccess to th e med ic i n e lodge o n th e l a ter d ays of th e cer

emonies and had an oppor tu n i ty of observ i n g th e wonderfulp i c tu res

on san d wh i ch are i l l u s tra ted in co l or in th e accom pany i n g p l ates .

2 . On Oc tober 2 1 , 1884, w hen I arr i ved at t h i s pl ace , th e pa t i e nt

fo r w hose ben efi t th e ri tes w ere cel ebra ted a n d a few of h er i mmed i a te

rel a t i o n s were th e on l y peopl e e n camped h ere . They occup i ed a s i ngl e

tem porary sh el ter of b ru sh wood,w i th i n a fe w paces o f w h i ch I had a

rud e sh e l t er e rec ted fo r my own accommoda t i o n . Th e pa t i e n t was a

m idd l eaged woman,who appare n t ly su ffe red from n o a i l m en t w h a te ve r ;

she was s tou t, ruddy , ch eerfu l , and d id h er fu l l sh are o f th e h o useh ol d

work e very d ay ; ye t sh e wa s a bou t to g i v e a way fo r t hese cerem on i e s

sh eep , h orses , a n d o th e r good s to th e val u e o f p erh aps two h u nd red

do l l a rs . No ce remo n i es wha t ev er were i n progress wh e n I'

c ame . E v

ery thing, so th e I n d i a n s s a id , was wa i t i n g fo r th e qacali . (P aragrap h

Som e men were engag ed in bu i ld i n g a corralfor the sh eep th a t were

t o be s l a u gh tered for th e gu es ts , a nd some ol d women were gri nd i n g

cor n to fea st th e men w h o we re to work in th e m ed ic i n e l odge , wh i ch

h ad bee n comple t ed s i x days before.

83 . Th i s l od ge was a s i m pl e con i cals t r uc tu re of l a rge , part l y h e wed

p u ro n l ogs , se t on e n d a n d i n cl i n ed a t an a ng l e o f abou t for ty-five d e

grees,so as to j o in on e an o th er on top , w here th ey f

'

ormed j he apex o f

th e l odge . Th e c i rcl e o f logs w as incom p l e te i n t h e e as t , w here t h e

open i n gs fo r t h e doo r a n d t h e smok e h ol e w ere . A passage , o r e n t ry ,abou t fi ve fee t h igh a nd th re e fe e t w id e

,l ed from th e body of the l odge

to th e o u ter doorway,wh ere som e b l an k e ts h u n g a s por t ieres . Th e

frame of l ogs w as covered w i th sods a n d l oose eart h to keep ou t w i n d

and ra i n . I n tern al ly,th e l odge w as e i gh t fee t in h e i gh t u n der th e ap ex

of th e cone and on a n a verage twentyfi ve feet in d i am e ter at th e base .

Th e d iame ter w as i n creased a t th e eas t (to a l l ow for th e e n try ) a n d a t

th e nor th. Th e i rregul ar i ty in t h e c i rc u m fer en ce i n th e nor th was a t

fi rs t conj ec tu red to be a m e re acc id e n t ; bu t in t h e cerem on i e s of the

fi rs t n i gh t i t s u se became appare n t as afford i n g a h i d i n g p l ace for t h e

man d ressed in e v ergree n s . (P aragraph

84. TH E F IRST FOU R D AY S’ cerem o n i es in th i s case h ad bee n per

fo rm ed d u ri n g t h e p rev i ou s yea r. Su ch a d i v i si o n o f th e work i s some

t imes m ad e , i f m o re con v en i e n t fo r'

t h e pa t i e n t and h i s fri en ds , bu t u s u

a l ly allis don e in n i n e con secu t i v e day s . These fi rs t d ays h a ve l ess o f

i n t eres t th a n th e oth ers . Ea rly each m orn i n g,before ea t i n g , al l w ho

des i re,men an d wome n , en te r th e m ed i c i n e l od ge , where , i n a s t ifl i n g

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

420 THE MOUNTAIN CHANT .

flees i n,a nd two rou n d flat s ton es , each abou t fou r i n ch es in d i ameter.

Th e u pper su rfaces of th ese h e pa i n ted,on e bl u e and o n e bl a ck

,a n d h e

bordered each w i th a s t ri pe of red . Wh en th e kethawns a n d c iga re t teswe re ready

,the qagali d i s t r i bu ted th em al o n g w i th th e bu n ch es of

pl u m es,o n th e fi ve p i eces of cot to n cl o t h , wh ich we re th e n ro l l ed u p

arou n d the i r co n t e n ts,mak i n g fi v e b u n d l es of sacri fices . On th e com

pleti on o f th i s work th ere was p raye r , son g , and ra t t l i ng ; th e m ed i c i n a l

powde r was appl i ed to th e body of th e pa t i e n t a s before (paragraph

two of th e l i t t l e sacr ific ia l b u nd l es were pl aced i n h er r igh t h and,

and w h i l e she h eld th em sh e aga i n repea ted a p rayer,fol l owi n g aga i n

ph rase by p h ra se,o r s en te n ce by se n te n ce

,th e word s of t h e p ri es t .

The l a t ter,whe n the praye r wa s e n ded , took th e sacrifices from h er

ha n d and p ressed t h em to d i fferen t pa r ts of h e r bod y i n th e orde r p re

vio u sly obse rved , begi n n i n g w i t h th e sole s of th e fee t a nd go i n g u p

wa rds to the h ead,b u t o n th i s occas i o n to u ch i n g a l so th e back

,and

tou ch i n g i t l a s t. Each t i m e a fte r p res s i n g t h e sac r ifices to h er body h e

h el d th em u p to th e sm ok e h ol e an d bl ew o n th em i n th a t d i rec t i on a

qu i ck pu ff,as i f bl ow i n g away som e ev i l i n fl u en ce w h ich th e sacri fices

w ere su pposed t o d raw from h er body . Th e n th e th re e rem a i n i n g bu n

d l es we re p u t i n h er h a n d s a n d th e r i tes observ ed w i th t h e form er bu n

d l e s w ere repea ted i n e very respec t , i n cl ud i ng th e p rayer,wh i ch was

fo l l owed by s i n g i n g an d ra ttl i n g . Wh en th e song had cea sed som e ofthe a ss i s ta n ts took th e bu n d l es of sacr i fices o u t o f t h e l odge

,n o doub t

to b u ry th em accord i n g to th e m e th od proper fo r those par t i cu l a r

kethawns . Th e rou n d pa i n ted s ton es were a l so ca rri ed o u t .

88. The prayers w h i ch th e wom an rep ea ted var i ed bu t l i t t l e . They

al l so u n d ed nearl y al i k e . Th e n igh t t h e sh ama n a rr i ved h e rehea rsed

som e. o f these p rayers w i th th e wom an,a t h er ow n h ogan

,to m ak e h e r

fam i l i a r w i th th em before she repeated th em in th e m ed i ci n e l od ge . Th e

p rayer add ressed to Ds ily i‘ Neyani , whe n she h e l d i n h er h an d the

offeri ng sacred to h im,was as fol lo ws

Rea red \V i th in the. M o u n tains !Lo rd o f t he M o u n ta ins !Yo u ng Man !

Ch ie fta in !I have made yo u r sac r ific e .

I have p repared a smoke fo r yo u .

My feet resto re tho u for m e .

My legs resto re tho u fo r me .

My b ody rest-o re tho u fo r me .

My m ind resto re th o u fo r me .

My vo i c e res to re. tho u fo r m e .

Resto re allfor me i n beau ty .

M ake beau t i fu l allthat is befo re me .

M ake. beau t i fu l allthat i s beh ind me.

M ake bea u t i fu l my wo rds.

I t is done in bea u ty .

I t is done. in bea u ty .

It. is do ne i n bea u t y .

I t is d one. in bea u t y . (Paragraphs 261

m m aws i CERE M ON IES : PRAYER AND SACR IF ICE . 42 1

89 . Th e n ex t par t o f th e ce rem on i e s (o r , shal l I say , th e t rea tmen t ? )was a fum iga t i on . Th e med i c i n e man took from th e fi re a l arge glow

i n g coal,p la ced i t besi d e th e woma n , an d sca t tered on i t some powdered

su bs ta n ce w h i ch i n s ta n tl y gave forth a d en se smok e a nd a s trong fragra ne e th a t fi l l ed th e l odge . Th e woman h el d h er face o ver th e coa l

an d i n h a l ed th e fu m es w i th deep i n sp i ra t i o n s . Wh e n th e smok e n olon ge r ros e th e coal was qu en ch ed w i t-h wate r a n d carr i ed o u t of t h e

l odge by th e ch i ef,M a n u el i to

,p robabl y to be d i sposed of in som e es tab

lished man n er . Th e n th e woma n l e ft the l odge a n d s i n g i n g a n d ra t t l i n g

were resu med .

90. W’h i l e th e r i tes j u s t d escr i bed were i n p rogress some ass i s ta n t s

we re b u sy w i th o th er m a t ters . On e m ad e,froni th e spo t ted sk i n of a

faw n,two bags in wh i ch the akan inilis o r cou ri ers .were to carry th e i r

m eal on t h e morrow’s j o urn ey . Ano th er b rough t i n a n d h u n g over

th e doorway a bu n d l e o f d ry , w i th ered pl an ts wh i ch h e had j u st ga th

er ed . G l a n ci n g u p a t th em I recogn i zed th e G u tierrez-ia a n d th e B on

telo -

zm . The b u nd l e may h a ve con ta i n ed th e o th er pl a n ts m en t i o n ed int h e my t h (paragraph Th ey we re h u n g u p there t i l l th e nex t d ay ,t o be th en u sed in a m an ner wh i ch w i l l b e descr i bed (pa ragr ap h

9 1 . Th e sh eepsk i n o n wh ich th e sacr i fices h ad been p l aced was tak e n

aw ay an d a bl ank e t was sp read o n th e grou n d to rece i ve som e m ore

sacred art i cl es from th e bag of th e ch an ter . These w ere fi ve l o n g

n o t c h ed w and s , some ta i l fea th ers of th e w i ld t u rk ey , som e smal l d ow ny

fe a t h ers of th e eagl e,an d some n a t i ve m i n e ral p igmen ts— yel lo w och er ,

a ferr u g i n ou s b l ack , a nd a n a t i v e bl u e . Wi th th e p i gm e n ts th e ass is tan ts pa i n ted th e n ot ch ed wand s ; w i t h t h e p l u m es th e ch a n t-er t r immed

t h em . (See F ig . 5 1 a n d P l a te X I. ) Then t he y were cal l ed cobolga, a

wo rd of obscu re e ty mology ,o r i ntia

‘, wh i ch s ig n ifies s t i ck i n g u p or

s tan d i n g erect . They are ca l l ed 1 11 t h i s pap e r“ p l ume d wa nd s .

”

92 . Wh i l e som e were mak i n g t h e go bolga. o th ers bu s i ed th em se l ves

gri nd i n g,be twee n s to n es

,l a rge q u a n t i t i e s of p igm en ts

,coa rse r th a n

t hose refe rred to above,to be u sed i n mak i n g the sa n d p ic t u res o r d ry

pa i n t i n gs of th e cerem ony . They m ad e fi ve col ors : b l ack , of ch a rcoal ;wh i te , o f wh i te sand s ton e ; red , of red sa nd s to n e ; yel lo w ,

o f y el l ow

sa n ds to n e ; an d b l u e ,” of th e black and wh i t e , m i xed i n prope r p ropor

t i o n s ; o f cou rse th i s was a gray , b u t i t was the i r o n l y cheap s u bsti t u te

for t h e cerulean t i n t,and

,combi ned w i th th e o the r col o rs o n th e sa n d ed

floo r,in th e d i m l i gh t of th e l od ge

,i t cou l d n o t eas i ly be d i s t i n gu is hed

from a t ru e bl u e . I t may be remark ed in pass i n g th a t th e Navaj o

appl y to m any th ings wh i ch a re gray th e term th ey u se fo r bl u e (colij ) ;th u s th e gray fox i s ca l l e d i na

‘

i -eolij (blu e‘

c oyote) a nd a gray sheep i s

ca l l ed a bl u e sh eep . Ye t t hat th ey m ake a d i s ti n ct i o n be twee n t hese

col o rs i s,I t h i n k

,fai rly ev id e n t from the fac t tha t i n p a i n t i n g smal l

a rt i cles , su ch as kethawns a n d mask s , t h ey u se th e m ore cos tl y a r t i cl e s of

t u rquo i se , m al ach i te , an d i nd igo . Thes e coa rse p i gme n ts for th e d ry

pai n ti ngs we re p u t fo r con v en i en ce on cu rved p i ece s of p i fi on bark .

422 THE MOUNTAIN CHANT .

F rom t i m e to t i m e,d u r i n g th i s and th e fol l ow i n g days , as th e h eaps of

col o red powder d i m i n i sh ed u nder th e h a nd s o f th e art i s ts,more s ton es

a n d ch arcoal we re p u l ve r ized to rep l e n i sh th em .

93 . Abou t n oon th ey cl eared ofi'

t ha t por t i o n o f th e floor o f th e l od ge

wh i ch l ay wes t of th e fi re,a n d brou gh t , i n bl a n k e ts , a q uant i ty of d ry

sa nd,wh i ch th ey Spread o u t o ve r th e cl ea red port i o n o f t h e floo r in a

l ayer o f th e n early con sta n t d ep t h of

th ree i n ch es . They sm oo th ed the s u r

face w i th t h e broad oake n ba t te n s u sed

i n weav i n g . Now for a t i m e allopera

t i o n s we re s u spen d ed i n th e l odge w h i l e

th e ch an ter w en t o u t to plan t the co

bolea, or pl u m ed wa nd s , i n fron t o f t he

m ed ici n e l od ge,a n d to l ay bes id e th em

the col la rs of bea ver sk i n s an d th e sym

bol s for w i n gs w h i ch t h e cou ri e rs were

t o wea r n ex t day . (F i g . These a r

ticles , i t was sa id , were p laced o u ts id e

as a s i g n to th e god s th a t th e hol y p i c t

u res were be i n g d raw n ; bu t i t i s n o t im

p robabl e that th ey were i n ten ded al so a s

a si g n to u n i n i t i a ted m ortal s . Howeve r

F 1“ , The gono iga m !m ed wands ,th a t may be

,th ey were t ake n i n as soon

"mm “1 " 0 the med ia“ as th e p i c tu re w as fi n i sh ed . Th e grea t

pai n t i n g was begu n abo u t 1 o’cl ock p . m

was fi n i sh ed abou t 3,an d was al l owed to rema i n u n t i l the c eremo

n i es a t ni gh t were co n cl u d ed . I t w i llbe d escri bed l a t er. (Paragraph s

100 et seq . )94. Wh e n th e p i c t u re was com pl e ted food was bro u gh t i n , and th ere

was a good deal of ea t i n g a n d s l eep i n g and smok i n g do n e . Be i n g i n

form ed th a t no th i n g m ore wou l d be do n e u n t i l a ft e r ni gh tfal l . I wen t

to my own sh e l ter , to elabora te som e o f my m ore h as ty sk e tch es w h i l ema t ters were s t i l l fres h i n my m i nd . A t 7 o’cl ock a m esse n ger cam e to

tel l m e th a t ceremon i e s were abou t to be resu med . Du r i n g my absence

the pri n ci pa l ch a rac t er in th e n i gh t’s p erforma nce— a man arrayed in

eve rgree n s ha d bee n d ressed .

95 . I fou nd , o n re tu rn i n g to th e l odge , a n u mbe r of spec ta tors se at-ed

a rou n d cl ose to th e ed ge o f th e apa r tme n t . The fi re b u rn ed i n t h e

ce n te r . The s i ck woman,w i th som e compan i o n s

,sat in th e sou th .

The qagali , w i th a few ass i s ta n ts w ho j o i n ed h i m i n s i n g i n g an d s h ak i ngra tt l es , was sea ted a t th e n o r th , at th e p l ace w h e re th e c i rcumfe re n ce

of the l od ge was en l arged . (Parag raph T h ere w as a Space abo u t

two fee t w ide a n d si x fee t l o n g between th em an d th e wal l , or roof i f yo u

ch oose so to cal l i t , of th e l odge . I was ass i gn ed a pl ace in th e wes t .

The s i ck woman was d i rec ted to m ove from th e pos i t i o n s h e o ccu p i ed

u m u swm CEREMON IES PA I NT ING PICTURE . 423

i n th e sou th , a n d si t,w i th h er face to th e eas t, a t th e j u n c t i o n of th e

two wh i t e serpe n ts th a t c ross on e a n oth e r o n th e p i c tu re . (P l at e X V . )96. Whe n sh e was se ated th e qacali bega n a song , accompan i ed by

th e u su al ra t t l i n g an d d ru mm i n g . A t a certa i n par t of th e son g th e

cha n ter w as see n to mak e a sl i gh t s i gna l w i th h i s d ru m s t i ck , a. rap i d

s troke to th e rea r,w h e n i n s ta n t l y a m ass o f a n i m a t e ev ergreen s— a

m ov i n g tree , i t seem ed— sp ran g o u t from th e Space beh i n d the s i n gers

an d ru sh ed towards th e pa t i en t . A t err i fy i n g yel l fro m the specta tors

gree ted th e appar i t i o n,wh e n th e man i n green

,act i n g as i f fr igh ten ed

by th e n o i se,re t rea ted as q u ick ly as h e cam e

,a n d i n a. mom en t n oth i n g

cou ld be see n in the space beh i n d th e s i n gers bu t the sh i ft i n g sh adows

ca st by th e fi re . He wa s so th orough l y covered wi th sp ru ce tw i gs tha t.

n o th i n g of h i s form save h i s toes cou l d be d i s t i n gu i sh ed w h e n be r u sh ed

o u t. in th e fu l l gl a re o f th e fi re . Th i s scen e was repea ted th ree t i m es , at

d u e i n tervals .

97. Som e t i m e after th e th i rd repe t i t i o n , the ch a n ter a rose , w i th o u t

i n t erru p t i ng h i s so ng“

,a nd p roceed ed to erase th e p i c t u re w i th h i s ra t

t l e. He bega n w i th th e mou n ta i n i n th e wes t (paragraph w h i ch

h e compl e te ly l evel ed ; n ex t in orde r h e e rased th e t rack of t h e bea r ;nex t , the hol e i n th e cen te r ; a n d t h en , o n e by on e , the va r i ou s o th er

figu res,en d i n g w i th th e se rpen ts o n th e o u ts i d e . In e ras i n g th e ser

pe n ts,h e bega n w i t h th e figu res in th e ea s t an d fol l owed t h e appa re n t

cou rs e o f th e su n,e nd i n g w i th th e figu res i n th e n or th . \V h e n th e p i c t

u re was comp l e tely ob l i tera ted , th e sa n d o n w h i ch i t h ad bee n d raw n

was col l ec ted , pu t in a bl ank et , and ca r ri ed o u t. o f d oors , to be th rown

aw ay .

98. Th en th e s i ck woma n was l i ft ed by two o th e r wome n a n d la id on

h e r S i d e wh ere th e p i c tu re had been,w i t h h er face to t h e eas t . Wh i l e

she l ay th ere , th e m ed i ci n e man,am i d m u ch s i n gi ng , wal k ed arou nd

h er , i n scr i bed o n the ea rt h a t h er fee t a s t rai gh t l i n e w i th h is fi nger

a nd era sed i t w i th h i s foo t,i n scr i bed a t h e r h ead a c ross a n d ru bbed i t

o u t in th e sam e m a n n er. traced rad i at i n g l i n es i n alld i rec t i o n s from h er

body an d obl i terated th em ,gave h er a l igh t m assage , wh i s t l ed o ver h er

from h ead to foo t and allarou n d h er,an d wh i s tl ed towards th e smok e

h o l e,as i f wh i s t l i n g some th i n g away . Th ese ac t s w ere perform ed in

t h e order i n w h i ch th ey are recorded . H is l a s t opera ti o n on h er was a

severe m assage , i n wh i ch h e k n eaded e very pa r t o f h er body forc i bly

a n d pu l l e d her jo ints h ard , wh e rea t she groaned an d m ade d em on s t ra

t i o n s of s uffer i n g . Th i s con cl uded, she rose . A blan ke t was Spread o n

t h e gro u n d on th e n or th of th e fi re,nea r wh ere th e man in e vergree n s

was con ceal ed . A t th e l a s t appe ara n ce of th e man i n evergree n s t h e

wom an fel l back appa re n tl y paralyzed a n d s u ffer i n g from d ifficu l ty of

brea t h i n g , allo f wh ich was p robably fe ig n ed , b u t was su p posed to be

a s i gn tha t t h e ri gh t rem edy or cerem ony for h er a i l m e n t h ad bee n fou n d

a n d t ha t n on e o th e r n eed be t r i ed . Th e m ed ic i n e man now p roceeded

to res tore h er to co n sc i ousn e ss by draw i n g z i gzag l i n es from her body

42 4 THE M OUNTA IN CHANT .

ea s t. a n d west an d s t rai gh t l i n e s n or th and sou th , l i ke th e i r symbol s

fo r t h e ch a i n and Shee t l i gh tn i n gs , by s tepp i ng o ver h er in d iffere n t

d i rec t i o n s,and by ra t t l i n g . Wh e n sh e h ad appa ren t l y recovered

,be

pressed th e p l um ed w and s an d th e symbol s for w i n gs to d i fferen t par ts

o f h er body,i n th e ord er a n d w i th th e ceremo n i es descr i bed wh en

refer r i ng to p rev i o u s appli ca t i on mad e to h er body .

99 . The re were n o more ce remo n i es th a t n igh t . I rema i n ed i n th e

m ed i c i n e l odge u n t i l i t was qu i t e la te . Th e me n occu p i ed the i r t i m e ins i ng i n g , ra t t l i n g , gambl i n g , an d sm ok i n g. After a wh i l e som e grew

wea ry an d l ay d ow n to s l eep . Bei n g repeated ly assu red t ha t n o th i n g

m ore wou l d h appen u n t i l th e Wh i s t l e so u nd ed i n th e m orn i n g,I l eft th e

l odge to rol l myse l f in my bl an k e ts . Ye t freq uen t l y d u ri n g th e n igh t,

fea r i n g I m igh t h a v e bee n d e

c e ived, I s tea l th i l y aros e an d

v i s i ted th e m ed ic i n e lod ge ,onlyto fi n d allslu ni bering sou n d ly .

100. S IXTH DAY . A t fi v e inth e m o rn i n g (Sa tu rday , Oc to

be r 25 ) th e w h i s tl e sou nd ed an d

I ha s ten ed to th e m ed i ci n e

l odge . There was m uch to be

do n e ; th e cou r i e rs w ere to be

d ressed and sen t o n the i r way,

and a l a rge p i c tu re was to be

pa i n ted ; so th e work h ad to beg i n ea rly .

1 01 . The fi rs t th i n g don e was

to bu rn to ch arcoa l t h e b u nd l e

of pl a n ts wh i ch h ad bee n ga th

ered on th e p re v io u s m orn i n g

an d h u n g o ver th e door of thel od ge i n s i d e . (Pa ragrap h

Th e ch arcoa l w as u sed in pa i n t

ing th e l i m bs o f th e akaninilis

o r co u ri e rs . A basi n o f wa te r

con ta i n i n g soap root. 0 ’ amole

(th e roo t o f Yu c ca ba ccam a n d

o th er speci es o f y u cca ) was

brou gh t i n,and afte r t h e med i

c i n e m an h ad d abbed th em w i th

alittle of the s u d s the akaninilis

el ec t washed th em sel ves w i th

i t from h ead to foo t,cl ea n i n g

FIG. 52 . A kzininili rea dy fo r the j o u rney . th e i r h a i r we”. \V h e n th e ba thW21 8 (10 110, they were d abbed by th e qacali w i th som e o the r m i x tu re co ntained i n a wa t erp roo f w i ck er bas i n an d were mad e to i n h a l e th e fra

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426 THE MOUNTA IN CHANT.

i t was d one , th e akaninili fro m the sou th re tu rne d . H e was carefu lly

d i v este d o f allh i s o rna m ent s . Th e w h i te p aint was scra p e d carefu l ly

fro m h is bo d y and p reser v e d in th e m e d i c ine bags of th ose wh o scra p e d

i t. off . Th en h e. was l e d o u t of t h e l o d ge .

1 05 . Wh en the p i c tu re was fini s h e d,t h e sha m an, ha v ing ap p l i e d p o l

len in th ree p lac es to each go d , s tu ck aroun d i t in th e groun d , at regu lar

int er v al s , th e t h ree p l u m e d wand s w h ic h had s too d befor e the d oor of

t h e l o d ge alld ay and th e wan d'

wh i ch the akaninili fro m t h e sou th had

.j u s t b r ough t back w i t h h i m . Th i s wan d h e p lace d at t h e sou t h of t h e

p i c t u re,and lai d bes i d e i t t h e col lar , w ings , and p l u m es w h i ch th e aka

ninili had worn. Th e fi fth,o r nor t h

,wand was s t i l l absent w i th th e

c ou r ie r wh o went to t h e nor th .

1 06. A l l was rea d y now for t h e t reat m ent of t h e s ick wo m an. Sh e

was sent for , and a cri e r went to t h e d oor of th e l o d ge to announce

tha t song and c ere m ony were to beg in. Acco m p ani e d by ano th er

wo m an,sh e entere d

,carry ing a bask e t w i th c o rn meal in i t . Th i s sh e

S p r ink le d l i gh t l y o v e r t h e p i c tu re and t h en hand e d i t to so m e o f t h e

ass i s tants , who fini sh e d t h e work sh e had begun by s t rew ing t h e meal

p l ent i fu l l y on t h e figu res . Sh e sat on th e form o f th e go d in th e eas t,

fac ing t h e d oor,w i t h her fee t ex tend e d , and h er co m p ani on sat on the

figu r e o f th e corns talk i n the sou t h eas t . (P la te X V I.) In th e m ean

t i m e t h e m e d i c ine man had m a d e a col d infus ion in -an ear th en bow l and

p lace d i t on th e han d s o f th e rainbow figu re (p aragra p h lay ing o v er

i t a brush o r S p r ink l e r m a d e o f fea th ers w i th a hand l e o f co l o re d yarn.

Wh en t h e wo m en were seat e d , th e ch anter d i p p e d h i s b ru s h in th e so l ut i on ; s p r ink le d t h e p i c tu re p l ent i fu l ly ; tou ch e d each d i v ine figu re w i th

th e m o i s tene d b rush i n t h ree p laces— brow,m ou th , and ch es t ; a d m in

i stered t h e infu s ion to the wo m en, in two a l te rnat e d rau gh t s to each ;d ra ine d t h e bow l h i m s el f ; and han d e d i t t o th e bys tan d ers , that t h ey

m i gh t fini sh the d regs and l e t none o f t h e p reci ou s s t u ff go to was te .

Next ca m e th e fu m i gat i on. Th e wo m an wh o m w e ha v e d es i gnate d as t h e

co m p ani on rose fro m h er s ea t on the p i c tu re and sat on th e groun d hes i d e t h e d oo r . Th e p r inc i p alp at i ent re ta ine d h e r seat on t h e eas te rn

go d . N ear each a l i v e coa l was lai d on t h e ground . On th e coal a

s trong sc ente d b u t rath e r fragrant m i x tu re was th rown, and as t h e

fu m es arose t h e wo m en wa v e d t h e m t owar d s th e i r faces and b rea th e d

th e m in as before . Th e coalwas ex t ingu i sh e d and carefu l l y re m o v e d,

as on p re v i ou s oc cas i ons . Th e a p p l i cat i on o f th e sacred d u s t to th e

bo d y o f th e p at i ent fol l owe d . Th e sh a m an m o i s tene d h i s han d s w i t h

sa l i v a and p resse d t h e m t o t h e fee t o f allthe go d s . So m e o f t h e pow

d er , o f cou rse , s t u ck t o h i s p al m s . Th i s h e a p p l i e d to the fee t o f t h e

p at i ent . Th u s h e took d u s t fro m t h e knees , ab d o m ens , ch es ts , sh ou l

d e rs , and h ea d s o f t h e figu res and a p p l ie d i t to corres p on d ing p ar t s of

t h e. p at i ent.’s for m,m ak ing a s t rong m assage w i th each a p p l i cation.

1 07. Wh en t h e p at i ent had d e p ar te d m any o f t h e s p ec tators a d v ance dt o the p i c t u re and gat h ere d t h e co rnp ollen(paragra p h s 105 and now

MATT H EWS -l CEREMONIES I TREAT M ENT OF THE PAT IENT .

ren d e re d d ou bl y sacre d , and p u t i t in t h e i r m e d i c ine bags . So m e took

p o r t i ons o f t h e re m a ining d u s t from t h e figu res , after th e manner of

t h e sha m an, and a p p l i e d i t t o a i l ing p or t i ons of t h e i r p e r-sons . I f t h e

d e v o te e had d i sease in h i s l egs , h e took d u s t fro m the l egs of th e fi gu res ; i t

‘

in h i s h ea d , the d u s t was tak en from th e h ea d s o f th e figu res ,and so on.

“

108. By t h e t i m e th ey were alld onet he p i c tu re was ba d l y m arre d ;ye t i t s general for m and so m e of t h e d etai l s w ere q u i t e d i s t ingu i shab l e .

Then i t. beca m e the p ro v ince of th e chant er to co m p l e te l y ob l i terat e i t.

He began w i th t h e w h i t e go d in t h e eas t and took in t u rn the figu res

in t h e sou th eas t (co rn), so u th , sou th wes t , wes t , cent er , nort h wes t , nor th ,and nort h eas t . Nex t

, the fi gu re o f t h e rainbo w was erase d fro m foo t

to h ea d,and , on h i s way , the chant e r k nock e d d own, w i t h rath e r v i c i o u s

b lows,t h e p l u m e d wan d s w h i ch s too d u p aroun d th e p ic t u re . “

f

li en

h e ca m e to the ro und fi gu re in the cente r h e d u g u p a cu p wh i c h had

b een b u ri e d th ere . H e e rase d t h e p i c t u re w i th a l ong s l end e r wan d

and sang in the m ean t i m e,to t h e acco m p ani m ent of t h e rat t l ing of h i s

ass is tants , a p laint i v e chant in a m ino r key , w h i ch was p erha p s th e

m os t m e l o d i ou s Ind ian song I e v e r h ear d . A l l was o v e r at hal f p as t

2 i n th e afternoon.

100. L ate r in t h e d ay i t was annou nce d t h a t the o th e r akaninili was

a p p roach ing fro m t h e nor th . H e cou l d th en he obser v e d abou t a m i l e

away in an O p en p lain. A s h e a d v ance d the soun d o f h i s w h i s t l e was

h ear d . A t exac t l y hal f p as t 4 h e entere d t h e me d i c ine l o d ge , wh ere

th e chant er m o t i one d h i m to a sea t- in th e so u th“

. S inging and rat t l ing

were at onc e begun and th e aka-ninih was d i v es te d of h i s t ra p p ings in the

fo l low ing o r d e r : h ea d p l u m es,bea v e r co l lar

,neck lace , r i gh t w ing , l e ft

w ing , bel t , sash , m occas ins . Th e w h i t e p aint was rem o v e d and p re

se r v e d as o u the for m e r occas i on. H e was l e d o u t o f t h e l o d ge , wh ere

h e was wel l wash e d f r o m h ea d to foo t in a h o t d e'

co c t i on of the d e ter

gent a m o l'

e and d r i e d w i t h co rn m eal. Two large b loo d b l i s ters we re

to be seen on th e inner as p ec t s of h i s th igh s,brou gh t. on bv t h e fr i c t i on

o f h i s b reech clo t h i n r u nning . H e sa i d t ha t h e had ru n cons tant ly

w h en not in s i gh t fro m o u r ca m p,had t ra v e l e d a l ong way s ince m orn

ing, and was v e ry t i re d . I t see m s to be th e. cu s to m w i t h t h e aka-ninilis

to wal k s l owly wh en near ca m p and t o ru n wh en o u t of s igh t , p robab ly

to fol low t h e m y t h i c exa m p l es o f Tla¢esg i ni and Ind s iska’

i . (Paragra p h

1 10. “ i i th the to i l e t of th e akaninili t h e cere m oni es of the day end e d .

He re t u rne d to th e l o d ge t o re lat e h i s a d v ent u res and ge t so m e foo d .

D u r ing the day v i s i tors arr i v e d occas i onal l y fro m d i s tant ca m p s . In

t h e afternoon t h ere were se v eral yo ung men p resent , w ho b u s i e d t he m

se l v es i a gru bb ing and cl earing t h e ground wh ere t h e corra l was to be

bu i l t and the“

g rea t d ance o f t h e las t n i gh t was to be h e l d . I re

m a ine d in t h e lo d ge unti l i twas qu i te late , and I freq uent ly rose d u r ing

th e ni gh t to see i f any th ing was go ing on ; bu t t h e ni gh t p asse d w i th

o u t e v ent , l i k e t h e p re v i o u s one.

428 THE M OUNTA IN CHANT .

1 1 1 .SEV ENTH DA Y . Th e p a int ing of t h e p i c tu re and th e t reat m ent

of th e s i ck wo m an were th e only w ork s p e rfor m e d on th i s d ay (S u n

day ,Oc tober Th e w h i s t l e soun d e d fro m t h e lo d ge at 6 a. m .

,

b u t a l rea d y th e p l u m e d wan d s and th e bea v e r col lars had been p lac e d

b efore the d oor of th e m e d ic ine l o d ge and t h e san d fo r th e gro un d work

of th e p i c tu re had been brou gh t in. A s th e p i c t u re (P late-X VI I ) was to

be larger than th ose wh ich p rece d e d i t , t h e ti re was m o v e d q u i t e near

to the d oo r ; the h eat e d ear th w h i ch lay und e r th e fi re in i ts for m e r

p os i t ion was d u g u p and rep lace d w i th c o l d ear th,p robably for th e

co m fo rt o f th e ar t i s ts .

1 1 2 . Th e work of t h e p a inters was begun soon afte r 6 a . m . and was

not c o m p l e te d unt i l abou t 2 p . in . Abou t a d ozen men we re engage d

on i t , and i t occu p i e d th e m , as we ha v e seen, abou t e igh t h ou rs . A s

u s ual,the qagali d i d v ery l i tt l e o f th e m anual labo r ; bu t h e cons tant l y

wat ch e d th e work and f r equ ent l y c r i t i c i se d and correc te d i t . Wh en t h ep a int ing was d one

,i t beca m e h i s d u ty to ap p l y th e sacre d corn p o l l en

to the brow ,m o u th

,and ch est o f each o f th e go d s and to set u p th e

boun d ing cobolca o r p l u m e d wand s . Afte r th i s h e p lace d a bow l o f

wate r on th e l eft h an d o f t h e wh i t e go d — th e form secon d from th e

nor th— th re w into i t so m e p ow d ere d s u bs tance to m ak e a c o l d dec oc ~

t i on,and la i d t h e S p r ink l e r on to p of i t . (Paragra p h

1 1 3 . Th e w h i s t l e was b l own. Th e h eral d announce d th a t allwas

rea d y . Th e s i ck wo m an and h er co m p ani on entere d,and one afte r

t h e o t h e r c as t m eal u p on t h e floo r . Th e for m e r took o ff h e r m occas ins

and sat on t h e groun d near th e d oor w h i l e a song was sung . Th en sh e

sat on th e form o f th e w h i te go d , h er co m p ani on sat on t h e for m of th e

b l u e go d , and th e s inging and rat t l ing w ere res u m e d . VV'

tho u t infer

ru p ting h i s song t h e chante r s p r ink le d t h e p i c t u re w i th t h e infu s i on,a p p l i e d th e m o i s tene d s p r ink l er to th e b reas t , h ea d , and b ro w of eac h

of t h e go d s in t h e fo l l ow ing o r d e r : wh i te,b l u e

,ye l l o w

,b lac k

,and sat

d own to fini sh h i s chant . H e a d m ini s tere d t h e d ecoc t i ons to h i s p at i ent

in two d rau gh t s,to h er co m p ani on in two d rau gh t s

,to h i m se l f (h ones t

p hys i cian ! ) in th e sa m e m anne r,and ga v e as before (paragral

'

lh 1 06)th e d regs to th e by s tand ers . H e a p p l ie d t h e d u st from d i fferent p ar ts

of t h e d i v ine figu res to th e s i ck w o m an,in m uch t h e sa m e m anner as

on th e p re v i o u s d ay , and wh i l e d o ing th i s h e ob l i terate d th e p i ct u res of

th e l i ttl e ani m al s o v er t h e h ea d o f th e w h i te go d . Th e fu m i gati on o f

bo th wo m en was re p eate d w i th exac t l y th e sa m e r i tes as on the secon d

d ay , and th e fu m es had p rec i se ly the sa m e o d o r on t h i s occas i on as on

t ha t . “ lhen th e coa l s we re ex t ingu i s h e d and tak en o u t,th e chante r

sai d to t h e wo m en,“ kac

”

(now), w h erea t t h ey aros e and l eft th e l od ge .

1 1 4 . As soon as th ey were gone t h e work of ob l i tera t i on b egan. Th e

figures of t h e go d s were r ubbe d o u t in t h e u sualor d e r (wh i te , bl ue ,yel low, black , rainbow ) , the e rasu re i n each cas e p rocee d ing from foo t

to h ea d . Th e p l u m e d wan d s fe l l as before,s i m u l taneou sl y w i t h t h e

d es tr u cti on of th e rai nbow . Th e san d was carr i e d o u t at hal f p ast 2

o’clock and no fu r th er r i tes w ere p erfor m e d d u r ing t h e day .

MAT THEWS l CERE M ON IES : GREAT WOOD PILE .

E IGHTH DAY . The p ic tu r e p a inte d on M on d ay (Oc tobe r 2 7)was of a s i m p l e charac te r , and h ence d i d not occu p y m u ch t i m e . The

work was begun at 7 a . Ill. and was fini she d at 10 a . in. O f th e fou r

sh or ter o r int er i o r arrows (P late X VII I ) , tha t w h i ch s tan d s sec on d

fromthe nor th was regar d e d as th e arrow of the eas t and was begun

fi r s t . On th i s arrow th e s i ck wo m an was p lace d,s i t t ing w i th h er face

to th e eas t,wh en sh e ca m e to be t reate d and f u m igat-c d . Th e bow l o f

infu s i on was la i d on t h e p o int of t h e ar row im m e d iately to h er l e ft ,regar d e d as the arrow of t h e nor th . Th e m e d ic ine man p u t t h e p ol l en

on th e base , on th e re d c ross l ines near the cente r , and on th e w h i t e t i p s .

A l l t h e cere m oni es w h i ch took p lace be tween th e co m p l e ti on and th e

ob l i terat i on o f th e p i c t u re (th e p lant ing of the fi v e p l u m e d wan d s,the

S p r inkling of the p i c t u re w i t h m eal,th e s p r ink l ing and a d m ini s trat i on

o f the infu s i on, th e a p p l i ca t i on o f t h e co l o re d d u s t t o th e p erson of

t h e p ati ent , t h e fu m i ga t i on of t h e two wo m en, t h e wh i s t l ing , t h e s l u g

ing , and ra t t l ing) were essent ia l l y the sa m e as t h ose obser v e d on t h e

p re v i o u s d ay . In tak ing th e d u s t fro m t h e p i c tu re , howe v e r, the sha

man a p p l i e d h i s h an d s onl y t o th e bases of t h e -

arrows . Th e c eremonv

of obl i terat i on was al so a re pet i t i on o f the r i tes o f th e p re v i o u s d ay .

1 1 6. Th e bu i l d ing of t h e great. s tack of woo d (F i g . 53 ) w h i ch was t o

fu rni s h th e fi re in th e center o f t h e corral on th e las t nigh t went on

F IG . 53. The g reat wo od p i le .

s i m u l taneou sl y w i th th e p ai nt ing of t h e p i c t u re . B o th task s we re

b egun and end e d abou t t h e sa m e t i m e . Th e woo d in th e b ig p i l e was

d ea d,l ong seasone d j uni p e r and ce d ar

,fu e l o f t h e m os t i nfla m m ab l e

ch arac ter . Th e p i l e was abo u t twe l v e fee t h igh and s i x ty p aces in c i r

430 THE M OUNTA I N CHANT .

c u mferenc e . L arge q uant i t i es of t h i s d ry w oo d w ere a l so brough t and

p lace d o u ts i d e th e s p ace al l otte d to th e co rral , to re p l eni s h t h e fi res

w h en nee d e d .

1 1 7. In t h e afternoon t h ere were no ce re m oni es in th e m e d i c ine l o d ge .

Th e. qagali and h i s ass i s tant s took a hal f h o l i d ay , and no t w i th out d eser v ing i t

,for t hey had wrough t wellfo r th ree d ays and t h ey had a l ong

d ay’s work and a l ong ni gh t’s wo rk s t i llbefore t h em. A large nu m be r o f

p eo p l e had by t h i s t i m e asse m bl ed , and fro m t i m e to t i m e m o re arr i v e d .

Th rough o u t th e s p arse g ro v e w h i c h s u rround e d u s,l i t t l e te m p o rary

co rral s and h u t s o f bou gh s we re go ing u p in e v e ry d i rec t i on. In m o re

secre t s p o t s in th e ru gge d wal l s o f a cahon, abo u t hal f a m i l e fro m t h e

m e d i c ine l o d ge , o th e r sh e l ters were e rec te d , w h ere v i s i t ing p erfor m e rs

were to p re p are t h e m sel v es on the last ni gh t . M any young men were

bu sy i n th e afternoon cu t t ing d own t h e t rees and Io p p ing o ff t h e

b ranc h es wh ich were to fo rm t h e grea t corr al(t h e ilnasj in, the d ark

c i rcl e of b ranch es ) on the nex t d ay . So m e o f th e v i s i t ing wo m en were

bu sy grind ing m eal and at tend ing to d i t’

ferentho u sehold d u t i es ; o th ers

p laye d car d s o r engage d i n t h e m o re abor ig ina l p as t i m e o f intact] , a

ga m e p layed w i t h th ree s t i c k s and for ty s tones , t h e la t ter for co unters .

1 18. Th e fri end s o f th e si ck wo m an p re p are d t h e al kan,a great corn

cak e bak e d in t h e ear th , t h e manu fac tu re of w h i c h ga v e e v i d ence of

th e antitp i i ty o f t h e p roc ess . Th e ba t t er was m i x e d i n one large h o l e

in the. g r oun d l ine d w i t h fres h sh ee p sk in. It was bak e d in ano th e r

ho l e in wh i c h a ti re had been b u rning fo r m any h ou rs,unt i l th e s u r

rou n d ing ear t h was we l l h eat ed . The fi re was re m o v e d ; th e h ol e l ine d

w i t h co rn h u sk s ; th e bat te r lad le d in and co v ere d w i t h m o re corn

h u sk s ; h o t ear t h and ho t coals w e re S p rea d o v e r all. Th e cak e was

no t d u g u p u nti l t h e t‘

ollowing‘

d ay , and was d es i gne d ch i efly fo r t h e

s p ec ia l enter ta in m ent o f thos e wh o were at work i n th e m e d i c ine l o d ge .

1 10. N INTH DAY (UNT IL SUN SET ) . 0 11 Tu es d ay (Oc tober 28) t h e

wo rk in t h e l o d ge cons i s te d in p re p ar ing c er tai n p ro p e r t i es to b e u se d

in t h e ce re m oni es o f t h e nigh t . Th ese w ere the wand s to be u se d in t h e

fi rs t d ance,t h e katso -

y iscan o r grea t p l u m e d arrows,and t h e t rees

w h i c h t h e d ancers p re t en d e d t o swal l o w .

1 20. Th e wan d o f t h e nahika'

i was m a d e by p ar ing d own a s t rai gh t

s lend e r s t i ck o f aro m at i c s u m ac,abo u t t h re e fee t long , to the genera l

th ickness of less t han hal f an i nch , b u t l ea v ing a h ea d o r b u tton a t one

end . A r ing was fash i one d f r om a t rans v e rs e s l i c e o f so m e h o l low o r

p i thy p lant,so t ha t i t wou l d s l i d e f r ee ly u p and d own t h e s l en d e r wand

,

bu t wou ld not p ass o v e r th e h ea d . Eagl e d own was s ecu re d t o t h ewoo d en h ea d and al s o to th e r ing . In t h e d ance (p aragra p h 1 20) t h eeagl e d own on th e s t i c k

a

i s b u rne d ofi'

i n th e fi re w h i l e t h e r ing i s h e l di n t h e p al m o f the h and . Wh en t h e t i m e co m e s for t h e wan d to growwh i te aga in, as the na m e nah ika

'

i ex p resses i t,t h e r ing i s al l o we d t o

lea v e th e. p al m and s l i d e to t h e o t h er end o f th e s t i ck .

1 2 1 . The g r ea t p l u m e d arrows w ere d ece p t i ons so m ewhat s i m i lar inc harac ter to the wand s . One -hal f o f th e arrow was m a d e o f a s len d e r

nu rrnnws . ) c ream -tomes : PREPAR ING I M PLE M ENTS .

har d tw ig o f c l i ff rose ; t h e oth e r ha l f was fo r m e d o f so m e p i thy su f

fru t i cose h erb wh ich I cou l d no t d e te rm ine sat i s fac tor i l y,as 1 saw onl y

thec u t sec t i ons and was no t p e r m i t te d to hand l e t h es e . Th e p i th was

re m o v e d so as to al l o w t h e wood en p ar t t o m o v e into t h e h erby p art

w i t h a tel esco p i c m echani s m . The h e rbaceo u s p or t i on was so co v e re d

w i th feath ers t hat no th ing cou l d b e seen o f i t s s u rface . A large s tone

arrowh ea d was a t tach e d to t h e woo d en sh aft . Wh en t h e ac tor p re ’

t end e d to swal low t h i s be m e re ly h el d th e s tone p o int fi r m ly be tween

hi s tee th and force d t h e u p p e r o r p l u m e d s haft d o wn on t h e l o wer o r

woo d en shaft . I t was an exce l l ent c ption, and p resente d to th e or

d inary obser v e r allt h e a p p earance ofgenu ine ar ro w swal l ow ing .

1 22 . Th e p ifion sap l ings , wh ic h t h e d ancers al s o p re tend e d to swal l ow ,

had no d ece p t i v e ar range m ent . They were s l en d er l i t t l e t rees t r i m m e d

at the bu t t into a b roa d , t h in, we d ge s ha p e d p o int , wh ich was carefu l ly

s m oo th e d by rubb ing i t w i th sand s tone , s o that no oti'

ens ive s p l inte rs

shou l d p resent t h e m se l v es to th e l i p s of th e d ancers . Th e s m oo th end

was p ainte d re d , p robably to m ak e th e s p ec tators , at ni gh t , by th e u n

cer tain firelight, s u p p ose that t h e d i sse m blers had to r n t h e i r th roat s in

t h ei r grea t efi'

orts . So m e ti m e s t h e sa p l ings ha v e allth e i r branche s

re m o v e d,and are then t ri m m e d w i t h c ross p i ec es and c i rcl es o f e v er

green s p rays . In m ost cases , h owe v e r , I ha v e seen t h e sa p l ing u se d in

i ts natu ral con d i t i on.

1 23 . As each se t of i m p l e m ent s was co m p l e te d th e re was a cere m ony

w i th s ing ing and rat t l ing , t h e men wh o were to,

u se t h e m at ni gh t

p ar took of p o w d ere d m e d i c ines on th e i r ex tend e d tongues,fro m th e

han d s o f t h e chante r, and t h en p rac t i ce d th e m se l v e s in t h e u se of t h e

i m p l e m ent s . A l th ou gh th e y we llknew t h e d ec e p t i v e natu re o f th ese

ar t i cl es and fu l ly un d ers too d the frau d s t h ey were p re p ar ing t o p e r

petrate on th e p u b l i c , th ese young men see m e d to v i e w th e wh ol e work

w i th h i gh re v e rence and t reat i t w i th the great es t s er i ou sness . For

ins tance , wh en, in th e sec re c y of t h e l o d ge , th ey went th r ou gh t h e

m oti ons of swal l ow ing t h e t re es t h ey sh owe d ind u b i tab l e s i gns of fear :

alll ook e d anx io u s , so m e t re m ble-d qu i te p e rce p t i b ly , and one l ook e d as

p al e as a l i v e Ind ian c an l ook . Th ey p robab ly d rea d e d th e d i s p l eas u re

of th e go d s i f allwere no t d one w el l .

1 24 . L AST N IGHT . J u s t after s unse t th e ol d chante r p os te d h i m se l f

so m e p aces to t h e east o f th e grea t woo d p i l e , on t h e s p o t where t h e gat e

of th e corral was to be , and began a song . S i m u l taneou s w i t h t h e. beg in

ning of th e song was th e co m m ence m ent o f th e b u i l d ing o f t h e d ark

c i rcl e . A l l t h e young and m i d d l eage d men i n ca m p ass i s te d . Th ey

d ragge d t h e b ranc h es from w h ere t h ey had been c u t d o wn in t h e. ne i gh

boring woo d s and p u t t h e m in p os i t i on i n t h e c i rc l e w i t h grea t cel e r i ty .

Th e work was all d one i n l es s t h an an h ou r,d u r ing wh i ch t i m e t h e

chante r cease d no t fo r an ins tant h i s song and ra t t l e . Wh en t h e fenc e

was fini s h e d to h i s S i‘

i tisfac tion h e ste pped h i s song and th e labo rs o f

th e work m encease d w i th the so und . Wh en fini s h e d t h e corral a v e rage d

43 2 TH E M O UNTA IN CHANT .

abou t fo r ty p ac es in d ia m e t er , and th e fence was abo u t e i gh t fee t h i gh ,w i th an O p ening l eft in t h e eas t abou t ten fee t w i d e .

1 25 . Th e m o m ent th e d ark c i rc l e of b ranch es was fini sh e d i t inclose d

sacre d groun d . A ny d og w h o d are d to ent e r was chase d o u t w i th

sh o u t s and m i ss i l es . Th e man o r wo m an wh o ca m e m u s t,on t h e fi rs t

occ as i on, p ass aro un d to th e l eft, i . e .

,to th e sou t h o f t h e great woo d

p i l e . No one was al l o we d to p ee p th rough th e fence o r l ook o v e r t h e

e d ge of i t t o w i tness t h e cere m oni e s . Tha t p ar t of t h e au d i tori um was

reser v e d for th e s p i ri ts of th e b ears and oth er ances tral ani m algo d s .

No h orse m i gh t be l e d into t h e i ncl o s u re unt i l after s unri se nex t

m orning,w h en t h e fence was raze d and allbeca m e co m m on so i l once

m ore .

1 26 . Wh en th e ni gh t began t o fal l m any of th e v i s i to rs m o v e d all

t h e i r goo d s into th e corral and l i gh te d t h ere a nu m be r of smallfi res cl ose

to t h e fence,t e m p o rari l y aban d oning the i r h u t s and sh e l ters o u t s i d e .

Those. who d i d not m o v e in l eft watc h ers to p ro tec t th e i r p ro p e r t y fo r

t h e re are th i e v es a m ong th e Na v aj o . Th e woo d s aro u nd th e corral

w ere l igh te d u p in v ar io u s d i rec t i ons by th e fi re s of th ose who had not

tak en th e i r p ro p e rty into th e grea t inc los u re and o f par t i es w h o w ere

p rac t i c ing d anc es and sh ow s o f an e xo ter i c charac ter .

1 27. Th e noc tu rnal p erfo r m ances o f thi s e v ening (Tu es d ay, Oc tober

28,1 884) were as m eager as any I ha v e seen w i th in t h e d ark ci rcl e o f

b ranch es . Th e bes t sh ow I e v er w i tnesse d in th e c i rc l e was one wh i c h

t ook p lace at Kea in’s Canon

,A ri zona, on t h e 5 t h of Nove m ber , 1 882 .

For th i s reason I w i l l m ak e th e no tes tak en on th e lat t er o ccas i on th e

bas i s o f m y d escr i p t i on of th e “ corral d ance,

”a d d ing as I p rocee d

su ch co m m ents as may b e j u s t i fie d by s ubsequ ent obse r v at i on and in

for m at i on.

1 28. A t 8 o’cl ock a ban d o f m u s i c ians wh i ch I w i l l cal l th e o rch es t ra

entere d, sat d o wn bes i d e one of t h e s m al l fi res in th e wes t , and began

to m ak e v ar i ou s v ocal and ins t ru m ental no i se s of a m u s i cal c h arac te r,

wh ich cont inu e d w i th scarcel y any interru p t i on unt i l t h e c l ose of t h e

d anc e in th e m o rning . A t t h e m o m ent. th e m u s i c began th e grea t c en

t ral fi r e was l i gh te d,and t h e c onflagration S p rea d so ra p i d l y t h rou gh

th e ent i re p i l e that in a few m o m ent s i t was en v e lo p e d in grea t fla m es .

A s to r m of s p ark s fl ew u p war d t o t h e h ei gh t of a h und re d feet or m o re ,and t h e d escend ing ash es fel l in t h e corral l ike a l i gh t sh ower of snow .

Th e heat was soon so intense tha t in th e re m o test p ar t s of t h e inclos

u re i t was necessary for one to s creen h i s fac e wh en h e look e d towar d s

t h e fi re . A nd now allwas rea d y t o t es t th e en d u ranc e o f t h e d ancers

wh o m u s t ex p ose,or see m to ex p ose (p aragra p h t h ei r nake d breas t s

to t h e torr i d g l o w .

1 29 . F i rst danc e (P lat e X II) . Wh en th e fi re ga v e o u t i t s m os t in

tense h eat,a warning wh i s t l e was h ear d in t h e ou t e r d arkness, and a

d ozen fo r m s , l i th e and lean,d resse d onl y in th e narrow wh i t e b reech

c l o t h and m occas ins,and d au bed w i t h w h i t e ear t h unt i l t h ey see m e d a

grou p o f l i v ing m arb l es . ca m e bound ing th rough t h e ent rance , yel p ing

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. 4 3 3

l i k e wo l v es and sl ow ly m o v ing aro un d th e fi re . As i hev a d v anc e d in

s ingl e fi l e t h ey t h rew t h e i r bo d i es int o d i v e rs a t t i tu d es— so m e grace

fu l,so m e s t ra ine d and d i ffi c u l t

,so m e m enac ing . No w t h ey fac e d t h e

east , now t h e so u th , the wes t , t h e north,bearing a l oft t h e i r s len d e r

wand s t i p p e d w i th eag le d own, h ol d ing and wa v ing th e m w i th su r p r i s

ing effec ts . The i r cou rse aro un d the fi r e was to th e le ft . i . e . , f r o m t h e

eas t to t h e wes t , by way o f the so u th,and bac k aga in to t h e eas t by

way o f t h e nor t h , a c o u r se tak en by allth e d ancers o f th e ni gh t , t h e

o r d e r ne v e r be ing re v e r se d . W'

h en th ey had enci rcl e d t h e fi re tw ice

t h ey began to th r u s t th e i r wand s towa r d i t, and i t soon bec ame evi d ent

t ha t t h ei r obj ec t was to bu rn off t h e t i p s o f eag le d o wn ; b u t ow ing to

th e intens i ty of t h e h ea t i t was d iffi cu l t to acc o m p l i sh t h is , o r at l eas t

t h ey ac te d wel l t h e p ar t. o f s t r i v ing agains t su c h d i ffi c u l ty . One wou l d

d ash w i l d ly towar d s the fi re and re t reat ; ano t h e r wou l d lie as c l os e t o

t h e groun d as a fr i gh tene d li zar d and en d ea v o r to wr i ggl e h i m se l f u p

to th e fi re ; o t h e r s so ugh t to ca tch on t h e i r wand s th e s p ark s fly ing in

th e ai r. One a p p r oac h e d th e fla m ing m ass , s u d d enl y th rew h i m s el f on

h i s back w i t h h i s h ea d to the fi r e,and sw i ft l y t h r us t h i s wan d into th e

fla m es . M any were t h e unsu c cessfu l at te m p ts ; bu t , at leng th , one by

one , th ey allsu ccee d e d in bu rni ng t h e d owny bal l s fro m t h e end s o f

t h e i r wan d s . A s each ac co m p l i she d th i s feat i t beca m e h i s nex t d u ty

t o res tore th e ba l l o f d own. Th e m ech ani s m o f t h i s t ri c k has been

d e sc ri be d (p aragra p h b u t t h e d ance r fe igne d to p ro d u c e t h e won

d erfu lres u l t by m e re l y wav ing h i s wan d u p and d own as h e cont inu e d

t o ru n aro un d t h e fi re . \Vh en he s u c c ee d e d be he l d h i s wan d u p in t r i

u m p h,yel p ed

,and r u sh e d o u t of t h e corral . The las t man p re ten d e d

to ha v e grea t d i ffi cu l ty in res tor ing the d o wn. Wh en at las t h e ga v e

h i s t r i u m p hant yel l and d e p ar te d i t was ten m inu tes to 9 . Th e d ance

had las te d twenty m inu tes .

1 30. In o th er re p e t i t i ons of t h i s ce re m ony th e wri t er has w i tnes se d

m ore of bu rl esq u e than on th i s occas i on. So m e t i m es t h e p erfor m ers h a v e

worn i m m ense. fa l s e m u s tach es,exag gera te d i m i tat i ons of s p ec tac l es

and of o th er be longings of th ei r w h i t e ne i ghbors . So m e t i m e s t h e

d ance has ass u m e d a. charac t er wh ic h w i l l not be d escri be d i n th i s pIaCe

(p aragra p h It i s cal l e d nahi kai -a l i l . Th e for m e r wor d s i gni fies i t

beco m es wh i te aga in”and refers to t h e rea p p earance of th e eagle d own.

Th e sh ow i s sai d to ha v e been int ro d u c e d a m ong the Na v aj o at t h e

grea t corra l d ance m ent i one d in t h e m y t h (p a r agrap h s 69—72 ) by a t r i be

f r o m t h e so u t h na m e d Q‘

ildjebe. I t i s no essent ial p ar t oft h e r i tes of th e

d ark c i rcl e , ye t I ha v e. ne v er known i t to be o m i t te d,p robab ly becau se

i t i s a m os t s u i tabl e d ance for t h e t i m e wh en t h e fi re i s th e ho t tes t .1 3 1 . Sec ond danc e. A fter an inte r v a l o f t hree -quar ters of an h ou r ,

the d anc e of t h e katso -

y isean, t h e great p l u m e d ar row,t h e p o t ent

h eal ing cere m ony of t h e ni gh t,began. Th ere w ere bu t two p erfor m ers .

They were d resse d and arraye d m u ch l i k e the akaninili , bu t th e y bo reno m eal bag s , wore no bea v e r col lars , and t h e p ar t s of t h e i r bo d i es that.

5 E TH 28

4 3 4 THE M O UN TA IN CHANT .

were not p ainte d b lack— l egs and forear m s— were d au be d w i th w h i te

eart h . Ins tea d o f t h e wan d o f t h e aka-niniIi , each bore in h i s han d oneof th e grea t p l u m e d arrows . Wh i l e th ey were m ak ing th e u sua l c i rcu i t s

a r oun d th e fi re,t h e p a t i ent (a man on th i s occ as ion) was p lace d s i t t ing

on a b u fl'

alo robe in front o t‘

t h e orches t ra. They h a l te d before t h e pa

F IG . 54 . Danc e r ho ld ing u p the g reat p lumed F IG . 55. Danc e r swal lo w ing the g reat plumeda r r ow . a r row.

t i ent ; each d anc e r Se ize d h i s arrow between h i s t h u m b and fo refinge rabou t ei gh t inch es f r o m the t i p

,h e l d the arrow u p to v i e w ,

gi v ing ac oyotel ik e Fel l) , as i f tO say , So far w i llI swal l ow i t ” (F i g . and t h en ap

p ea r e d t o th rus t t h e a r row,slo

’

wlv and painfu llv. d own h i s t h roat (F i g .

55 ) as far as in d i c ate d . t i l e t h e ar row s see m e d s t i l l t o be s tu c k in

th e i r t h r oat s , t h ey d ance d a c hassé,r igh t and l eft , w i t h s h or t , sh u ffl ing

m rm wsi CERE M ON IE S : DANCE OF GREAT P L UMED ARROW 43 5

s te p s . Th en th ey w i t h d r ew the ar rows , and h e l d the m u p to V i ew as

before,w i th t r i u m p hant yel p s

, as i f to say , So far ha v e I swal l o we d

i t .” Sy m p a th i zers in t h e au d i ence y e l p e d in res p onse . Th e nex t t h ing

to be d one was to a p p l y th e ar rows . One of t h e d ance rs a d v ance d

to th e p at i ent,and to t h e sol e s of t h e fee t o f th e latte r h e p resse d t h e

m agi c wea p on w i th i ts p o int. to th e r igh t , and aga in w i th i ts p o int to thel eft . In a s i m i lar m anne r h e t reate d th e knees , han d s , ab d omen, back ,sh ou l d ers

,c rown

,and m o u t h in th e or d e r na m e d

,gi v ing t h ree c oyo t e

l i k e y el p s afte r each a p p l i c a t i on. “T

h en th e fi rs t d ance r had co m p l e te d

th e work,t h e o th e r took h i s p lace and went. t h r oug h exac t ly th e sa m e

p e rfor m ance . Th i s fini sh e d , the s i c k man and t h e bu ffa l o robe we re

re m o v e d . Th e beare rs of th e ar rows d ance d once m o re a r ound the fi re

and d e p ar te d .

1 3 2 . Th e p l u m e d arrow i s f r eq u ent l y referre d to in th e songs of th i s

ri te . It see m s to be t h e m os t re v e r e d i m p l e m ent and t h e ac t in wh i c h

i t a p p ears the m o s t re v e re d al i l i o f th e ni gh t . A l l th e o th er sh ows may

be o m i t te d at. w i l l , bu t t h e danc e o f th e katso -

yi scan, i t i s sa i d , m u s t

ne v er be negl ec te d . I ha v e w i tnesse d o t h er p erfor m ances w h ere t h e

arrow swal lowe r s rea p p eare d w i t h th e i r n u m bers increase d to s i x o r

eigh t . Th e a d d i t i ona l d anc ers all p re ten d e d to swal l ow arrows,b u t

th ey d i d not. a p p ly th e m to t h e p at i ent . Th e ori g in o f t h i s al i l i i s we ll

ac c ounte d for i n th e m y t h (p aragra p h s 47, 5 3 , and and th e p ec u l iar

s i gnificance of t h e inj unc t i on not to b reak the a r row i s eas i ly u nder

s too d wh en we know —h ow t h e arrow i s m a d e .

1 3 3 . Thi rd danc e. A t 10o’c lock the so und o f the wh i s t l e again cal l e d

the s p ec ta tors to at tent i on and a l ine o f twenty - th re e d anc ers ca m e in

s i gh t . Th e one who led th e proc sssi on bore i n h i s han d a. wh i zz er (Fig ,

56) su ch as sch ool boys u se,a s t i ck t i e d to th e end of as t ring ; t h i s he

cons tant l y w h i rl e d , p ro d u cing a so und l i k e t ha t of a rain s tor m . A fte r

h i m ca m e one wh o re p resente d a charac te r, the Yebaka (angl i c i ze d ,Yaybaka), fro m th e grea t nine d ays

’ cere m ony of t h e kledj i -

qagal, o r

ni gh t chant , and he wore a b l u e b u ck sk in m ask t ha t bel ongs to t h e

charac ter referre d to . F ro m t ime to t i m e h e ga v e t h e p ec u l iar h oot or

cal l o f t h e Ya-

yb ic hy , (p aragra p h A fter h i m fol

l owe d e i gh t wan d bearers . Th ey we r e d resse d l i ke the bearers of the

grea t p l u m e d arrows b u t. ins t ea d o f an arrow each bo re a wan d m a d e

of grass,cac t u s

,and eag l e p l u m es . The res t o f t h e band we re c horis

t e r s in or d inary d ress . A s t h ey were allp rocee d ing roun d t h e fi r e fo r

t h e fou r th t i m e t h ey hal te d in t h e w es t , t h e ch o ri s ters sat and th e stan d

ing wan d beare rs for m e d a d o u b l e ro w of fou r . Then th e Yaybaka .

began to boo t, th e o rch es t ra to p lay , th e ch or i s t ers to s ing , th e wh i zzer

t o m ake h i s m i m i c s tor m , and th e wan d beare rs to d ance . Th e la t ter,

k ee p ing p erfec t t i m e w i t h th e o rch es t r a, went. t h rou gh a seri es of figu res no t unl i k e t h ose of a m o d e rn qua d r i l l e . In ou r ter p s i c horean no

menclatu re th e “c al l s ” m i gh t h a v e th u s been g i v en :

“ Fo rwar d and

back . Chassez tw ice . Face p ar tners . Forwar d and bac k . Forward

and bow . Forwar d and e m brace . Forwar d and wa v e wand s at p ar t

43 6 THE ri oUN'

rA i x CHANT .

nei &.e . Wh en se v e ra l o f t h ese e v o l u t i ons had been p erf o r m e d in

a grac e fu l and o r d erly m anne r , the ch or i s te rs rose , and allw ent s ing

ing ou t at the east.

1 3 4 . Th ree t i m es m o re th e sa m e ban d re t u rne d . In t h e th i r d andfou rt h ac t s t h e wan d s were ex ch ange d fo r grea t p inon p o l e s (e i gh t t o

ten fee t l ong ), p o rt i ons of wh i c h t h ey p re t end e d . to swa l l o w, as th e i r

p re d ec essors had d one w i th t h e arrow s . (Paragra p h Tha t. th e

s i m ple and d e v o t e d P u eb l o Ind ian d ocs ac t ual l y,in d ances o f t h i s

cha r ac te r,th ru st a. s t i c k far d own h i s gu l l e t

,to t h e grea t d ange r of

h eal th and e v en o t'

li fe,th ere i s l i t t l e reason to d ou b t ; bu t-th e w i ly Na v aj o

atte m p ts no s u c h p ro d i g i es o f d eg l u t i t i on. A carefu l ob ser v at i on o f

t h e i r m o v e m ent s on t h e fi rs t o c cas i on con v ince d me t ha t t h e s t i c k ne v e r

p asse d be lo w th e fau ces , and s u bseq u ent ex p e ri ence in th e m e d i c inel o d ge onl y s t reng th ene d th e con v i c t i on (p aragra p h

1 3 5 . Th e ins t ru m ent d es i gna te d abo v e as th e w h i zzer i s a th in,flat,

p o int e d p i e ce o f woo d,p ainte d b lack and s p ark l ing w i th th e s p ec u lar

i ron ore whic h i s s p r ink l e d on t h e su rfac e ; th ree s m al l

p i eces of tu rq u o ise are inla i d in t h e woo d to re p resent

eyes and m o u th . One wh izzer wh i c h I exa m ine d was

nine inc h es l ong,one and t h ree -fou r th s inch es broa d

,

and abou t a quar t er of an inch th i ck i n th e t h i c kes t

p ar t . (F i g . To it was at tach e d a s t r ing abou t t wo

fee t l ong,by m eans of w h ich t h e cent r i fu gal m o t i on was

i m p arte d to i t . I t i s alled by th e Na v ajo ts in

or groaning s t i ck . I t i s u se d a m ong m any t r i bes of t h e

sou th wes t in t h ei r cere m oni es . Th e Na v aj o ch anters

say that th e sacre d groaning s t i ck may only be m a d e o f

th e w oo d of a p ine t ree wh ich has been s tru c k by l i gh t

ning.

1 36. In the Fo u rth danc e th ere w ere abou t th i r ty ch or

isters,in or d inary d ress

,bearing pm on wan d s ; t h ere

was a man wh o sh ook a rat t l e,ano th er wh o wh i rl e d t h e

groaning s t i c k,and th e re w ere th ree p r inc i p al d ance rs ,

wear ing fancy m ask s and re p resent ing charac t ers fro m

th e r i tes of t h e kledj i qaealor d ance o f th e Yayb i c hy .

”

These th ree d anc e d a. l i v e l y and gracefu l j i g , in p er

fee t t i m e to the m u s i c , w i t h m any bows,wa v ing of

wand s , s i m u l taneou s e v o l u t i ons , and o th er p re t ty m o

t i ons wh i ch m igh t ha v e grace d the s p ec tacu lar d ra m a

of a m e tro p o l i tan t h eat e r. Th ree t i m es th ey l eft the

c orral fo r a mo m ent , and re t u rning v ari e d t h e d anc e,and alwz

'

i y s v ar i e d to i m p ro v e . The wan d s th ey bore

we r e large l i gh t fra m es of reed s a d o rne d w i th largeF IG . 56. Tho wh i z 0-8-n p l u m es .

1 3 7 . A fter t h i s th e re was an inter v al of near ly an

h ou r wh i c h p asse d s l ow ly wi t h t hose in the corral . So m e s m ok e d and

goss i p e d ; so m e l i s tene d to t h e ne v e r c eas ing d in of the o rch es t ra o r

S ec t ion.

nm u sws i CERE M ON IE S : srrc x SWALLOWING ; SUN snow. 43 ?

j o ine d in th e chant ; so m e b rou gh t in woo d and re p l eni sh e d th e waning

fi res ; so m e , wra p p e d in thei r sc rapes , s t re tch e d th e m se l v es on t h e

groun d to catch sh or t na p s .

1 3 8 . F if th danc e. I t was after m i d ni gh t wh en the bl ow ing of a h oarse

bu ffal o h orn anno unc e d t h e ap p roac h o f t h ose who were t o p e rfor m t h e

fifth d ance,th e tcohanoai al i l i o r s u n sh ow . Th ere we re twenty -fou r

c h or i s ters and a rat tl e r. There were two c harac te r d anc ers,who were

arraye d , l ik e. so m any o t h ers,i n l i t tle cl o th ing and m u c h p a int . Th ei r

h ea d s and ar m s were a d orne d w i th p l u m e s of t h e war eag le,t he i r neck s.

w i t h r ic h neck lac es o f genu ine coral, t h e i r wa i s t s w i t h v a l uabl e s i l v e r

s t u d d e d b el t s, and the i r l o ins w i th br igh t sashes o f cr i m son s i l k . One

bore. on h i s bac k a ro un d d i sk , nine inch es in d ia m e te r, d ecorate d w i thra d ia t ing eagl e p l u m e s to re p resent t h e s u n. The o th er carr ie d a d i sk

,

si x and a h al f inch es in d ia m e ter , s i m i larly orna m ente d , to sy m bo l ize

the m oon. Each bore a ske l e ton wan d o f ree d s t h a t re m in d e d one o f

t h e fra m e of a great k i te ; i twas orna m en te d w i th p en d ant eagl e p l u m e s

tha t swaye d w i t h e v ery m o t ion of th e d ancer . “l

h ile t h e wh o l e p ar ty

was p ass ing ro und t h e fi re in t h e u sua l m anner wan d s w e re wa v e d andh ea d s bowe d t owar d s t h e fla m es . When i t s to p p e d in th e wes t th e

ch or i s ters sat and sang and th e rat t l e r s too d and rat t l e d,wh i l e the

b earers of th e s u n and th e m oon d anced at a l i v e ly ra t e for j u s t th ree

m inu tes . Then t h e ch or i s t e rs rose and allsang and d anc e d th e m se l v es

o u t o f s igh t . A secon d p erfo r m ance o f thi s d ance c a m e be tween t h e

first and secon d re p e t i t i ons o f th e nex t sh ow.

1 3 9 . I h a v e recor d e d one s tory (bu t ha v e h ear d o f ano th e r ) ac c ount ing

fo r th e o ri gin of t h i s d ance ; i t i s as fol low s : When Ds ily i ‘Neyani v i si ted the m o unta in o f B istcagi , t h e h o m e of E stsan ¢ i gi ni , th ese d i v inebe ings had fo r o rnam ent s on th e i r wal l s th e s u n and t h e m oon. Wh enth e great my th i c d ance was gi v en t h ey were a m ong t h e gu es ts . They

brough t t h e i r wal l d eco ra t i ons , and wh en th e t i m e fo r t h e i r al i l i ca m e .

th ey wore t h e s u n and th e m oon on t h e i r bac k s wh en t h ey d anc e d .

1 40. Th e S ix th dance,t hat of t h e s tand ing arcs

,was bo th i

'

i ic tu resq u e

and ingeni o u s . Th e p r inc i p a l p erfor m ers were e i gh t in nu mlu gr, as u sua l

w i th scanty cl o th ing . Th ei r h ai r fel l l o ose and l ong o v e r bac k and

sh ou l d e rs and eac h bore in front of h i m,h e l d by bo t h hand s

, a woo d enarc , orna m ente d w i th eagle p l u m es . The end s o f t h e are (wh i c h was a.

fu llse m i c i rc l e ) s howe d t u ft s of p ifion twi gs , and th ey we r e e v i d ent l y

j o ined toge th er by a s l en d e r s tr ing,wh ich was inv i s i bl e. t o t h e au d ience .

B es i d es t h e e igh t p r inc i p al ac to rs,t h ere was a rat t l e r

,

’

a beare r o f t h e

groaning s t i ck , and a choru s .

'W h i l e allwere m ak ing t h e fou r t h c i r c u i t o f

th e fi re , f r eq u ent sh ou t s o f “ Q ohe I'

Q ohe I (Englished ,Thohay S tand !s tan d ! ” o r “ S tay ! stay i

”

) were h ear d , th e s i gni fic ance o f wh i c h soonbeca m e a p p arent. Wh en t h ey s to p p e d i n t h e w est

,t h e e i gh t c h ara c ter

d ancers fi rs t went t h rou gh v ar i ou s qua d r i l l e - l i k e figu re s,s uch as were

w i tnesse d in t h e th i r d d ance , and th en kne l t in two rows t ha t face d oneano t h er. A t a wor d fro m th e rat t le r th e man w ho was neares t. to h i m

.

43 8 THE MoUNTAlN CHANT .

(wh om I w i l l c al l No . 1 ) arose, a d v ance d to th e man w h o kne l t o p p os i te to

h i m (No . 2 ) w i th ra p i d , sh u ffl ing s te p s , and a m i d a c h oru s o f “ Thohay !

Thohay I” p lace d h i s are w i th c au t i on u p on th e h ea d of thelatter. Alth ou gh

i t was h e l d in p os i t i on by th e fr i cti on o f th e pifi on t u ft s at each ear and

by t h e p r ess u re of th e en d s o f th e are , now d rawn cl oser by th e su b

ten d ing s t r ing , i t had th e a p p earance of s tand ing on t h e h ea d w i th ou t

m ate r ia l s u p p or t , and i t i s p robab l e th at many o f th e unini t ia te d bel ie v e d

that onl y t h e m agi c infl u ence of th e o ft-re p eate d wor d “ Thohay” ke p t i t.

i n p os i t i on. Wh en th e arc was secu re d in i ts p lace,No . 1 re t rea te d w i th

s h u ffl ing s te p s to h i s fo r m e r p os i t i on and fe l l on h i s knees aga in. Im

m e d iatel y No . 2 a d v ance d and p lace d th e are wh i ch h e h el d in h i s h an d

on th e h ea d o f No . 1 . Th u s each in t u rn p lace d h i s are on th e h ea d of

the one w ho knel t o p p os i te to h i m unt i l allwore th e i r b eau t i fu l h al o - l i k e

h ea d d resses . Then, h o l d ing t h e i r h ea d s r i g i d ly e rect, l es t th e i r a r cs

sh ou l d fal l,t h e e igh t knee l ing fi gu re s began a s p l end i d

,wel l t i m e d

chant , w h i ch was accentua te d by th e cla p p ing o f han d s and j o ine d i n by

th e ch orus . t en th e chant was d one t h e ra t t l e r a d d resse d th e arc

bearers,warning th e m to be care fu l ; so they Cau t i o u s l y aros e fro m th ei r

knees and sh u ffle d w i th s t iffene d s p ines o u t of t h e co rral , p rece d e d by

th e ch or i s ters . Th is d anc e was re p eate d after th e sec ond p e r fo r m anc e

o f t h e fi ft h d ance .

1 41 . Serenth danc e. Th e are beare rs had .sc arc e iy d i sa p p eare d w h en

ano th er t ro u p e ente r e d th e c i rc l e , th e b uffal o h orn anno unc ing t h e i r

c o m ino. A man w ith a wh izz e r l e d the p rocess ion. Th e ch or i s ters

,in

o r d inary d ress , were th i r t een i n nu m ber . Th e p r inci p al d ancers w ere

b u t two ; t h ey wore t h e u sual sash and be l t ; t h e unco v ere d sk in was

pa inte d w h i te ; t h ey had on l ong b l u e woo len s tock ings o f Na v aj o m ak e

and m occas ins . Each bo re a s l en d er wan d o f two t r iangl es o f ree d s,

a d o rne d at th e corners w i th p en d ant p l u m e s . They sal u te d_th e fi re as

th ey d ance d arou nd i t . They hal te d i n th e w es t,wh ere th e ch or i s ters

sat d own, and the two wan d beare rs d ance d fo r th re e m inu tes ina l i v e ly

and gracefu l m anne r , t o t h e m u s i c o f the w h i zzer, th e ra t t l e , t h e ch or

i sters , and th e d ru m o f th e o rch es t ra . These re turne d tw i c e m o r e,mak

i ng so m e v a r ia t i on i n th e i r p e r for m ance eac h t i m e . In th e secon d ac t

the rat t l e r b rough t i n un d e r h i s arm a bask e t conta ining y ucc a l ea v es,

and a p raye r was sa i d to t h e s u n. It i s p oss i bl e t ha t th i s d anc e wasbu t a p re l i m inary p a r t of th e e igh th d ance , b u t i t m u st be d e scr i be d as

a se p ara t e al i l i .

1 42 . E ighth danc e. In th i s th ere were s ix t een p e r fo r m ers,in or d inary

.LT '

d V fljO d ress . One of t h ese bore th e w h i zzer and l e d th e p roc ess ion ;ano th er

,who ca m e in th e cent er of t h e l ine , car r i e d a h ewn p lank ,

o r

p unch eon,abou t 1 2 fee t l ong and 4 inc h es broa d

,p a inte d w i t h s p o t s and

d eco r ate d w i t h t u ft s of p inon branc h l e t s and w i t h eag le p l u m es ; i m m e

d iately beh in d t h e bea r e r of th e p lank wal k e d a man wh o had in a has

k e t an efli gy o f t h e s u n,fo r m e d of a s m a l l ro un d m i rro r and a nu m be r

o f rm’

i iating sc a r le t p l u m es . Ha v ing wal k e d aroun d t h e fi re as u sual ,

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

440 rm : MOUNTAIN CHANT .

went onc e m o r e aro un d th e fi re and d e p ar te d , l eav i ng .t h e fr u i t fu l v u c c a,

beh in d t h e m .

144 . In a m o m ent afte r t h ey had d i sa p p eare d t h e form of one per.

sount ing an age d , s tu p i d , sh or t s i gh te d , d ecre p i t man was seen to

eme rge S l o w ly fro m a m ong the crow d of s p e c tato rs in t h e eas t . H e

was d re sse d in an o l d and wo e fu llv ragge d s u i t and wore a h i gh , p o int e d

F i e . 5-7. Yu c c a bac c ata .

hat. H i s face was wh i tene d and h e bo re a shor t,crook e d

,woo d en bow

and a few c r ooke d,ill m a d e a r r ows . H i s mere a p p earanc e p ro v ok e d the

“ s to ic ”au d ience t o screa m s of laugh ter , and h i s s ubseq u ent “ l ow c om

e d y b u s iness,

” wh i c h ex c e l l e d m u c h tha t I h a v e seen on t h e c i v i l ize d

s tage , fa i l e d no t to m ee t w i t h u p roar i o u s d e m ons tra t i ons of ap p r o v al .

S low ly a d v anc ing as h e enac t e d h i s p ar t,h e in t i m e reac h e d the p lace

mm mz ws i CERE M ON IE S HOSH KAWN DANCE . 441

wh ere th e yu cca s too d , and , in h i s i m beci le to tterings , h e at l eng th s t u m

bl e d on t h e p lant and p re tend e d to h a v e h i s flesh lac era te d by th e shar p

lea v es . H e ga v e a t re m u l ou s cry o f p a in, ru bbe d sal i v a on th e p ar t

s u p p ose d to be wound e d,and m u t tere d h i s co m p lai nt s in a weak and

shak ing v o i ce . He p re ten d e d then to s eek for th e p l ant , and was th ree

t i m es woun d e d in h i s effor t s to find i t . A t leng th , kne el ing on the

ground , w i t h h i s face bu ri e d in th e l ea v es , h e fe igne d t o d i sco v er i t , and

rej o i c e d wi th q u eru l ou s ex tra v aganc e o v e r h i s s u ccess . Wh en he hadm ark e d the s p o t and th e way back to i t w i th an exagge rate d b u rle sq u e

of the Ind ian m e tho d s o f d o ing th ese t h ings,h e w ent off t o find h i s

o l d wo m an”and bring h e r to p i ck t h e fr u i t . S oon h e re t u rne d w i th

a tal l , s talwart man,d resse d t o re p resent a h i d eou s , absu r d - l ook ing o l d

granny . Th e lat ter ac te d h i s p ar t th rou gh ou t th e res t of th e d ra m a

w i th a sk i l l fu l l y eq ua l to th at o f h i s -co m r a d e .

1 45 . Th ere. were scenes i n t h i s d ra m a wh i ch m ay no t be, tol d i n t h i s

connect i on. It w i l l s u ffi ce to say h ere. t ha t wh en t h e y u c c a fru i t was

p ic k e d and p u t i n the bask e t t h e old man h el p e d t h e “ wo m an” to

sho uld e r h er l oa d and t h e p a i r l eft th e c orra l . The hac kan- inga‘ d oes

not in v ar iab ly a p p ear in t h e corra l d anc e . I ha v e at t en d e d one cere ~

m ony wh ere i t. was o m i t te d . I ha v e h ear d two d es c r i p t ions of th e d ance

wh i ch d i ffere d very inu c h fro m t h e one g i ven abo v e .

1 46. M any fac ts c oncerning no t onlv the h ac kan inca‘

,bu t o t h e r p ar t s

of th e m ounta in chan t,h a v e not been al l owe d t o ap p ear i n t h i s es s ay ,

Rec ognize d sc ient i s t s may l earn o f t h e m by a d d re ss ing t h e au t ho r

t h rough t h e D i re c tor o f th e Bu reau o f E thno l og y .

1 47. Tent/z. (la -

nee. A t twenty m inu tes p as t t h r e e an unint e res t ing p er

fo rmanc e cal l e d th e “ bear d ance ” began. A man ent ere d on allfo u rs ;h i s fac e was p a inte d w h i te ; h e were a ro und h i s loins and o v e r h i s

sh ou l d e rs p i ec es of so m e d ark p e l t wh i c h may h a v e b een bear sk in, bu t

l ook e d m o r e l ik e t h e sk in of a black sh ee p . Th e fi re had now b u rne d

l o w and the l i gh t was d i m . H e was acc o m p ani e d by two at tend ants ,one o f who m ca r rie d a ra t t l e . He went tw i ce a r ound th e r ing , i m i ta t ing

t h e l u m ber ing gai t o f th e b ear . H e occas i onal ly m a d e a cl u m sy l unge

s i d ew i se at so m e of t h e s p ec ta tors, as t h o u gh h e wou l d a t tac k th e m ;

b u t o u th ese o c c as ions t h e man w i th t h e rat t l e h ea d e d him off and rat .

t l ing in h i s fac e d i rec t e d him back to t h e u s ual cou rs e aro un d the ti re .

Th i s sh ow las te d fi ve m inu tes .

1 48. Th e Elec t-nth (la/nee. was t h e fi re d ance,o r fire p lay

,wh i c h was t h e

m os t p i c t u resq u e and s tar t l ing of all. So m e t i m e b e fo re th e ac tors

entere d,we h ea r d , m ingl e d w i t h the b l ow ing of t h e b u ffal o h orn, s t range

sound s,m u ch l ik e t h e ca l l of t h e san d -h i l l crane ; th ey w i l l , fo r c on

veni enc e,be. c al l e d t r u m pe t ing . Th ese so un d s cont inu e d to gro w l ou d e r

and co m e neare r unt i l t h ey were h ear d at t h e o p ening in t h e eas t , and

in a second afte r, ten men, h a v ing no m ore c loth ing on t han t h e p e r

for m e rs in t h e fi r s t. danc e , entere d . E v e r y man e xce p t the’

lead er bore

a l ong t h i c k bund le of sh red d e d ce d ar bark in each h and and one had

442 THE MOUNTA IN CHANT .

two ex t ra bund leson h i s sh ou l d ers for th e late r u se o f th e l ea d e r . Th e

la t t er carr i e d fou r s m al l fagots of th e sa m e m at er ial in h i s han d s . Fou r

t i m e s t h ey all d anc e d a r o un d th e ti re, wa v ing th e i r b un d l es o f bark

towa r d s i t . They hal te d in the eas t ; th e l ea d er a d v ance d towar d s t h e

cent ral fi re , l i gh t e d one of h i s fago ts , and tr u m p e t-ing l ou d l y th rew i t to

t h e eas t o v e r th e fence of th e cor r al . H e p erfor m e d a s i m i lar ac t at th e

sou th,at th e w es t , and at th e nor th b u t b efore th e nor th ern bran d was

t h rown h e l igh t e d w i th i t th e bark bund l es of h i s co m ra d es . A s eac h

b rand d i sa p p eare d o v e r th e fence so m e of the s p ec tators blew into th e i r

h and s and m a d e a m o t i on as i f tossing so m e s u bs tance afte r th e d e p art

ing fla m e . Wh en th e fas ci c l es w ere alll i gh te d t h e wh ol e band began a

w il d race aro un d t h e fi re . A t fi rs t t h ey k e p t cl ose toge th er and s p at

u p on one ano th er some s ubs tance of s u p p ose d m e d i c inal v i r t u e . Soon

t h ey sca t tere d and ran a p p arentl y w i th ou t concer t , th e ra p i d rac ing

cau s ing t h e b rand s to t h ro w o u t l ong b r i l l iant s t rea m ers of flam e o v er

t h e hand s and ar m s of th e d anc ers . Then th ey p rocee d e d to a p p l y th e

b ran d s to th e i r own nu d e b o d i es and to t h e bo d i es of th ei r co m ra d es in

front o f th e m , no man e v e r once t u rning ro und ; at t i m es t h e d ance r

s tr u ck hi s v i c tim v i goro u s b l ows w i t h h i s fla m ing wan d ; again h e

se i ze d th e fla m e as i f i t were a s p onge and , k ee p ing cl ose to t h e one p u r

s u e d,r ubbe d th e back of t h e lat te r fo r se v eral m o m ents , as i f h e w ere

bath ing h i m . In t h e m ean t i m e the s ufferer wou l d p e rha p s cat ch u p

w i th so m e one in front of him and intu rn bath e h im in fla m e . A t t i m es

wh en a d ancer fo un d no one in front of h im h e p rocee d e d to s p onge h i s

own back , and m i g h t kee p th i s u p w h i le m ak ing two or t h ree c i rcu i ts

aro un d th e fi re or unt i l h e caugh t u p w i th so m e one e l se . A t each app l i cat i on of t h e b laz e th e lou d t ru m p e t-ing was h ear d , and i t often

s ee m e d as i f a great flock o f cranes was w ing ing i t s way o v e rh ea d sou th

war d t h rough th e d arkness . I f a bran d b eca m e ex t ingu i s he d i t wasl i gh te d again in t h e cent ralfi re ; bu t w h en i t was so far cons u m e d asto be no l onger h el d con v eni ently in the han d

,th e d anc er d ro p p e d i t. and

r u sh e d,t ru m p e t ing , o u t of the corral . Thu s

,one by one

, th ey all d e

p ar te d . Wh en t h ey were gone m any of th e s p ec tators ca m e fo rwar d,

p i c k e d u p so m e of th e fal l en frag m ent s o f ce d ar bark,l i gh te d th e m

,

and bat h e d th ei r h an d s in t h e fla m es as a charm agains t t h e e v i l effec ts

o f fi r e .

1 49 . D i d th ese d ancers,next d ay , h i d e sore and blistered

'

bac ks und e r

th e i r sc ra p es "i I th ink no t», for I ha v e seen and conv e r se d w i t h so m e of

t h e p erfor m e rs i m m e d i at ely after th e fi re sh ow,and th ey see m e d ha p p y

and had no th ing to co m p la in of. D i d th e m e d i c ine t h ey s p at on one

ano th er sa v e t h e m "

3 C er ta inl y not, a l though t h e In d ians clai m i t i s a

t ru e p ro p h y lac t i c aga ins t bu rns and cal l i t a-z é-sakaz i o r co l d m e d i c ine .

B u t i t i s p robabl e tha t th e ce d ar bark i gni tes at a l ow t e m p e rat u re,

and mo re t han p r obab l e t hat th e coat ing of wh i te ear t h w i t h w h i c h

th e i r bo d i es were covered i s an exc e l l ent non-cond u c tor . How e v e r,

the th ou gh t t ha t th e i r bo d ies mi gh t h a v e been t h u s ingeni o u s ly p rotec ted l essene d l i t t l e , i f any , th e effec t. p ro d u ce d on t h e s p ec tator . I

MATT H EW“ CERE M ON IES : F IRE DANCE AND OTHER DANCES . 4 43

ha-Ve seen m any fi r e scenes on th e s tage,m any ac t s of fi re eat ing and

fi re hand l ing by ci v i l i ze d j u ggle rs,and m any fi re d anc es by o th e r In

d ian t ri bes , b u t no th ing q u i te co m p arabl e to th i s in all i t s sceni c

effec t s .

1 50. The clos ing cere m oni es I d i d not w i tness on t h i s occas i on,b u t

I saw th e m at s u bseq u ent d ances . Shor t ly before su nr i se an ass i s tant

p asse d aro un d the fi re fou r t i m es and S p r ink l e d a l i t t l e water on\

t h e

mass o f s m o l d e r ing e m bers,wh i l e the m e d i c ine man chante d t h e ap

propriate song . L ate r, th ree ga p s were torn in th e c i rcl e of b ranc h es

one in the so u th , one in th e w es t , and one in t h e nor t h— m ak ing,w i th

t h e ori g inal gat e i n t h e east, fo u r ent rances to t h e co rral . (S ee P lat e

X IV . ) J u s t after s unr i s e th e ent i r e c i rc l e of branc h es was raze d , bu t

th e b ranc h es w ere not carr i e d away . Th e t ra v e l e r t h ro ugh th e Na v ajo

count ry o ften enco u nte rs w i th ere d re m ains of t h es e c i r c les . In th e

ce re m ony of Oc tober, 1 884, t h e chante r , ha v ing ano th er engage m ent

wh i ch was p ress ing,p ack ed u p h i s sac r e d u tens i l s and l eft soon after

s unr i se . Th e p at i ent,i twas sai d , was notperm i tted to s l ee p unt i l after

s unse t .

1 5 1 . Other danc es . In s u b seq u ent d ances I saw exh ib i t i ons wh ich d i d

not occu r i n the c ere m ony of No v e m be r 5,1 882

,j u s t d esc r i be d

,and I

ha v e l earne d of oth e r sh ows p ro d u ce d on the las t. ni gh t,wh i ch I ha v e

ne v e r had an o p p o r t uni ty to w i tness . A l l th e alilis may be m o d i fi e d .

I ha v e rarel y seen two p erfor m ances o f th e sa m e danc e wh i c h were j u st

a l i k e .

1 52 . On two occas ions I ha v e w i tnesse d a v e ry p re tty d ance,in wh i ch

an eagl e p l u m e was s t uck u p r igh t. i n a bask e t and by m eans o f so m e

w el l h i d d en m e chani s m ca u se d to d anc e in goo d t i m e to th e song,t h e

beat of th e d ru m,and th e m o t i ons of th e s ingl e Ind ian w ho d ance d at

th e sa m e t i m e ; not onl y th i s , bu t the feat he r followe d th e m o t ions of

t h e In d ian : i f h e d ance d toward t h e no r th , t h e feath er l eane d t o th e

nor th wh i l e m ak ing i t s rhy th m i cal m o t i ons ; i f h e m o v e d to th e sou th , i t

bent i ts w h i te h ea d in t h e sa m e d i re c t i on, and so on. On one occas i on

i t was a l i t t l e boy,fi v e years ol d , son o f th e ch i ef M anu e l i to

,w ho

d ance d w i th th e eagl e p l u m e . H e was d resse d and p a inte d m u ch l i k e

t h e akaninili , o r the arrow swa l l o we rs (F i gs . 54,

on a d i m inu t i v e

scal e . Th e sash of scar le t v e l v e t aro und h i s h i p s was beau t i fu l ly

t ri m m e d w i th feathers . They sai d h e had been se v e ral w eek s in t rain

ing for t h e. d ance,and h e certainl y w ent t h rough h i s v ar i e d m o t i ons

w i t h grea t sk i l l . I hav e rarely seen a t e r p s i ch o rean s p ec tacl e t ha t

s t ru ck m y fancy m o re than tha t of t h e l i t t l e Ind ian ch i l d and h i s

p ar tner,th e eag le p l u m e .

1 53 . I t m igh t. be t hough t t hat the wor d thohay ,” so o ften u se d to m ak e

inani m a te. obj e c t s pay a t tent i on, was o ne o f v e ry sacre d i m p o r t . So i t i s,

no d o u b t ; ye t I have seen i t. b r oa d ly bu rl esq u e d . I t was on t h e occ as i on

of th e las t “ chant ” wh ich I at ten d e d . A nu m ber o f boys,fro m twe l v e

to fi fteen years of age th ey see m e d , l e d by a p l easant l ook ing o l d man

444 THE M O UNTA I N CHANT .

w i th a sk e p t i c al tw ink l e in h i s eye , ca m e into th e d ark c i rcl e . One of

t h e p a r ty carr i e d a d ee p Ind ian bask e t , fro m th e to p o f wh i c h a. nu m be r

of s p r u ce tw igs p ro t ru d e d . They fo r m e d wh a t has been d es i gnate d as

th e r ing of occ u l ta t i on, and w h i l e d o ing so t h ey sh ou te d and s c rea m e d

and p u ffe d th e tal i s m ani c thohay” in a way that l e ft no d o u b t-o f t he i r

intent-io n to r i d i cu l e . Thei r ex tra v ag ant m o t-ions a d d e d to th e signi fi

canc e o f their intonat i on. Wh en th e r ing o p ene d th e boys sat on th e

groun d and began to s ing and beat a d ru m . Th e o l d man sat at a d i s

tanc e'

o f abou t th r ee p ac es west of th e bas ke t . P resent l y t h e nose o f a

l i t t l e wease l (th e i m age being p robably a s tu ffe d sk i n) a p p eare d a m ong

th e s p ru c e bough s . A l l the t i m i d , inq u i r ing m o t i ons o f th e l i t t l e ani m al

we re wel l m i m i c k e d : t h e nose was th rus t forwar d and p u l l e d bac k,

th e wh o le h ea d wo u l d e m e rge and re t rea t , and at ra re t i m es t h e sh ou l

d ers wou l d b e Se en fo r a m o m ent, to be q u ic k ly d rawn in a m ong th e

screening s p ruce twigs . A llt hese m o t i ons were ma d e in p erfec t t i m e

to the s ing ing and d ru m m ing . The ol d man who p u l l e d t h e ac t ua t ing

s t rings m a d e no se c ret of h i s m anipu lat i ons . Th e p lay was inten d e d

for a farc e , and as s uch t h e s p e c tato rs enj oye d i t .

TH E GR E A T P ICTUR E S OF D S IL YIDJE Q A gAL .

154 . A d esc ri p t i on o f t h e fo u r g rea t p i c t u res d rawn i n t h ese c eremo

ni e s has been d e fe r r e d u nt i l all m i gh t b e d escr ibe d toge t he r . The i r

relat i ons to one ano th e r rend ere d th i s th e m os t d es i rab l e c o u rse to p u r

s u e . Th e p re p arat i on o f t h e groun d and o f the c olo rs,the a p p l i ca t i on

of the sacre d p o l l en,and so m e o t he r m at te rs h a v e been a l rea d y c onsid

ere d .

1 55 . The men wh o d o the grea te r part o f the ac t ua l wo rk o f p a int ing,

un d e r th e gu i d anc e o f th e c hante r ha v e been ini t ia te d , b u t nee d no t b e

sk i l le d m e d i c ine men or e v en as p i rants to t h e c raft o f t h e sha m an. A

cer tain cere m ony of ini t ia t i on has been p erfor m e d on t h e m fo u r t i m es,

each t i m e d u ring th e cou rse o f a d i ffe rent d ance , before th ey are ad

m i tted into the l o d ge d u r ing the p rogress of the work o r al lo we d t o

ass i s t in i t . Th e m e d i c ine man rece i ves a. goo d p resent in h orses for h i s

work ; the as s i s tant s get noth ing b u t th e i r foo d . Th i s , h owe v e r i s

ab un d ant . Th re e t i m es a day the p e rson fo r wh ose benefit th e d ance

i s p e r fo r m e d send s in enough m u sh,corn cak e , so u p , and roas te d m u t

ton to sat i sfy to th e u t m os t the a p p e t i tes of allin t h e lo d ge . Th e re are

so m e yo ung men who l i v e we l l allw inte r by go ing around t h e count ry

f r o m d ance to d ance and ass i s t ing in the work o f th e l o d ge .

1 56 . Th e p i c tu res are d rawn acco r d ing t o an“

exact sy s te m . Th e

sha m an i s freq u ent l y seen co rrec t ing the work m en and m ak ing t hem

e rase and re v i se th e i r work . In ce r ta in we l l d efine d ins tances th e a r t i sti s al l owe d to ind u l ge h i s ind i v i d ua l fancy . Th i s i s t h e c ase w i th t h e

gau d y e m b r o i d e r e d pou c hes w h i c h t h e go d s c arry at th e. wa i s t . W i th inreasonab l e bound s th e arti s t may g i v e h i s go d j u st as h and so m e. a p ou ch

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i n n-m ews . ) GREAT mor t ars or DS IL YIDJE oAckL . 445

as h e w i sh es . So m e p a r ts of t h e figu res,on th e o th er hand , are m eas ‘

are d by p al m s and s p ans , and not a l ine of t h e sacre d d es i gn c an b e

v ar i e d . S t rai gh t and p aral l e l l ines are d rawn by aid of a t i gh tene d cor d .

The m o d e of a p p ly ing th e col ore d p ow d e r i s p ecu l iar . Th e ar t i s t has

h is bark t raysla i d ou-th e san d wh ere th ey are con v eni ent of acces s ..H e

takes a s m al l q uant i ty of t h e powd er'

i n hi s cl ose d p alm and a l l ow s i t to

p ass ou t be tween h i s t h u m b and forefinger,w h i l e th e for m e r i s m o v e d

across t h e lat ter . Wh en h e m ak es a m i s tak e h e d oes no t b r u sh away

t h e p i g m ent . He obl i te ra tes i t by p ou r ing san d on i t, and th en d rawst h e corre cte d d es i gn on t h e new s u rface . Th e for m s of t h e go d s d o not.

a p p ear as I ha v e-re p resente d th e m in th e fi rs t coa t o f co lo r . Th e nak e d

figu res of t h ese m y th ica l be ings are fi rs t co m p le te ly and acc u rate l y

d rawn and t hen th e c lo th ing i s p u t on. E v en i n t h e p i c t u res of t h e“ L ong -bo d ie s ” (P la te X V II) , wh i c h are d rawn 9 fee t in l eng th

,th e.

nak e d bo d y i s fi rs t m a d e in i t s a p p ro p r iate co l o r— wh i te for t h e east,

b l u e for t h e sou th , ye l l o w for t h e wes t , and b lack for t h e nor t h - and

t h en th e fou r re d sh i r ts are p ainte d on f r o m th i gh to axi l la, as sh own in

t h e p i c tu re .

1 5 7. Th e d raw ings are,as a ru l e

,begun as m u ch towar d s t h e center

as th e natu re of t h e fi gu re w i l l p er m i t,d u e regar d being p a i d t o t h e

o r d e r o f p rece d ence of th e p o int s o f t h e co m p ass , t h e fi gu re i n t h e

eas t be ing begun fi rs t,that in the sou t h nex t

,tha t i n t h e w es t th i r d in

or d e r,and t hat in th e north fou r th . Th e p e r i p h e ry i s fini sh e d last of

all. Th e reason for t h u s work ing fro m w i th in ou twar d s i s that t h e men

e m p l oy e d on t h e p i c t u re d i s t u rb t h e s m oo th su rfac e of t h e san d w i th

t h e i r fee t . I f th ey p rocee d in t h e or d er d e sc r i be d t h ey c an s m oo th the

san d as th ey a d v anc e and nee d not c ross th e fini s h e d p orti ons o f th e

p i c t u re .

1 58. I ha v e l earne d of s e v enteen grea t h eal ing d ances o f th e Na v aj o

in wh ich p i c t u res o f t h i s charac ter are. d rawn. There are sai d to be,

w i th few exce p t i ons— only one exce p t i on tha t I am p os i t i v el y aware o f

fou r p ic t u res a p p ro p r iate to eac h d anc e . So m e of th e d ances are prac

t i ce d so m ewh a t d ifi'

erently b y d iffe r ent sch oo l s o r or d e r s a m ong th e

me d ic ine men, and in t h ese d i v ers forms t h e p i ctu res , al th o ugh agreeing

in general d es i gn, v ary somewhat in d e ta i l . Th u s th ere are , on an a v e r

age , p robab ly m ore than fou r d es igns , bel onging to each o f th e se v enteen

ce re m onies , wh ose na m es I ha v e ob taine d . I f t h ere were b u t fou r to

eac h,th i s wou l d g i v e u s s i x ty -e i gh t s u ch p a int ings known to t h e m e d i

c ine men o f t h e t r i be,and t h u s we may for m so m e conce p t i on of the

grea t nu m ber of t h ese sac re d p i c t u res wh i ch th ey p ossess . B u t I ha v e

reason to bel i e v e,fro m m any th ings I ha v e h ear d

,tha t b es i d es th ese

se v enteen grea t nine d ays’ cere m oni es to w h ic h I refer,t h e re are m any

m inor c ere m oni es,w i th th e i r a p p ro p r iate. p i c tu res ; so t ha t t h e nu m be r

i s p robabl y grea te r t han t hat wh i c h I g i v e .

1 59 . These p i c t u re s,th e m e d i c ine men a v e r , are t rans m i t te d f r o m

t eac h er to p u p i l in each o r d e r and for each cere m ony unal tere d fro m

446 THE MOUNTAI N CHAN T .

year to year and fro m genera t i on to gene ra t i on. Tha t s u ch i s s t r i c t l y

t h e c ase 1 c annot be l i eve . Th ere are no s tand ar d p i c tu res on han d

anywh e re . No p e r m anen t d e sign for reference i s e v e r in ex i s tence,

and t h e re i s , so far as I c an l earn, no fina l au th or ity in t h e t r i be to se t t l e

any d i s p u tes tha t may ar i se . Few of t h ese great cere m onies c an b e

p e rforme d in the su m m e r m ont h s . M ost o f t h e figu res are th erefore

c a r r i e d o v er fro m w int e r t o w inter in th e m e m o r i es of fa l l i b l e men. B u t

th i s m u c h I d o cre d i t , t hat any inno v at ions wh ich may cree p into th e i r

work are unint ent i onal and that i f changes occu r t hey are w rough t

v e ry s low ly . Th e sha m ans and t h e i r fa i th fu l fol lo wers be l i e v e,or p ro

fess to bel i e v e , t hat t h e d i res t v engeanc e of t h e go d s wo u l d vi s i t th e m

i f t h ese r i tes w ere v ar i e d in t h e l eas t in p i c tu re , p rayer , song , o r c ere

m onial . Th e m ere fac t t h a t t h ere are d ifferent sch oo l s a m ong th e

m e d i c ine men may be regar d e d as an e v i d enc e th a t changes ha v e occ u rre d .

1 60. F IR ST P I CTURE . Th e p i ctu re of th e fi rs t day (P lat e. X V ) i s

sa i d t o re p resent th e v i s i t o f Ds ily i‘Neyau i to th e h o m e of the snakes

at Q oqzestso.

3aragrap h

1 61 . In the c enter o f th e p i c t u re was a c i rc u lar conca v i ty,abou t s i x

inch es in d ia m e te r , inten d e d to re p resent wate r, p res u m ably t h e h ou se

of wate r m ent i one d in th e m y th . In allt h e o th er p i c t u res w h ere wate r

was re p res ente d a. s m al l how] was ac t ua l ly sunk in th e ground and

fi lle d w i th wa ter,w h i ch wa t e r was aft erwar d s s p rink le d w i th p ow d e re d

charc oa l‘

to g i v e t h e i m p ress i on o f a flat, d ry su rface . Why th e bow lof water was o m i t te d in th i s p ic tu re I d o not kno w ,

b u t a m e d i c ine

man of a d i fferent frat e rni ty from t ha t of t h e one w ho d re w the p ic t

u re infor m e d m e th at w i th men of hi s sc hoo l th e bow l fi l l e d w i t h wa te r

was u se d in t h e snake p i c t u re as wel l as i n t h e o t h ers . C l ose l y s u r ‘

roun d ing th is cent ra l d e p ress ion are fou r p ara l l e l ogra m s abou t fou r

inc hes by ten inch es i n th e o ri g inal p i c tu res . Th e ha l f nearer t h e center

i s re d ; th e ou ter ha l f i s b l u e ; th ey are bor d e re d w i th narrow l ines of

wh i t e . Th e sa m e figu res are re p eat e d in o t h er p aint ings . Th ey a p p ear

in th is d raw ing,and freq u ent l y in o th ers , as so m e t h ing on wh i ch th e

go d s see m to s tand . Th ey are the c a‘b i tlol, o r raft s of s unbea m , t h e

fa v o r i t e v esse l s on w h i c h th e d i v ine ones na v i ga t e. th e u p p e r d ee p . In

the Na v aj o m y th s,w h en a

'

god has a p art i c u larly l ong and s p ee d y

j ou rney to m ak e,h e takes tw o s unbea m s and

, plac ing them s i d e by s i d e,

i s borne off i n a tw ink l ing w h i t h e r h e w i l l s . Red i s the c o lo r p ro p e r

to s unl igh t in the i r sy m bo l i s m , bu t t h e re d and b l u e toge t h e r re p resent

sunbea m s in t h e m orning and e v ening sk i es wh en th ey sh ow an al ternat i on o f b l u e and re d . It w i l l b e seen la t e r that .th e s unbea m s haft s

,

the hal o , and th e ra inbow are re p resente d by the sa m e co lors . In for m,

h owe v e r. the hal o i s c i rcu lar,and t h e ra inbow i s d i s t ingu i s h e d by i t s.

c u r v a t u re , and i t i s u s ua l l y anth ro p o m or p h i c,wh i l e t h e s u nbea m and

th e hal o are not. Ex t ernal to th ese s unbea m raft-s, and re p resente d as

s tan d ing on th e m , are th e figu res of e igh t ser p ents,two w h i t e ones in

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448 THE M OUNTA IN CHANT .

1 64.Th e d i v ine for m s are sha p e d a l i k e b u t co lore d d ifi

'

erently . Th ey

lie w i th bead s ex t end e d o u twar d , one to each of th e fou r car d inal p o int s

o f t h e c o m p ass , th e faces l ook ing forward , th e ar m s ha l f e x t en d e d on

e i th e r s i d e,w i th the han d s ra i se d to a l e v el w i th th e sh o u l d ers . Th ey

wear aroun d t h e i r l o ins sk i r ts of re d sunl i gh t , a d o rne d w i t h sunbea m s .

Th ey h a v e ear p en d ant s,b r ace l e t s , and a r m le ts , b l u e and red (o f t u r

q u o ise and co a l) , th e p reh i s to r i c and emblemati c j ewels o f t h e Na v aj o .

Th e i r forear m s and l egs are black , sh ow ing in each a z i gzag m ark to

re p r esent. l i gh tning on the su rface of the black rain cl ou d s . In th e

no r th go d th ese co l ors are,fo r ar t i s t i c reasons , re v e rse d . Each bears

,

at tac h e d to h i s r igh t han d w i th a s tr ing , a ra t t l e , a char m , and a baske t .

Th e ra t t l e i s of th e sha p e of th ose u se d by t h e m e d ic ine men i n th i s par

ti c u lar d ance , m a d e of raw h i d e and p ainte d to sy m bo l iz e th e ra in c l ou d

and l i gh tning . Th e le ft hand i s e m p ty ; b u t be s i d e each one i s a. h i gh ly

con v ent i onal ize d p i c t u re of a p lant . Th e l eft h an d re m ains e m p ty,as i t

were,to gras p t h i s p lant , t o i n d i ca te tha t th e p lant at t h e le ft han d he

l ongs to th e go d w h ose c orres p ond ing hand i s unoccu p ie d and ex t end e d

towar d s i t. The p ro p r i e torsh i p of each go d in h i s own p ar t i c u lar p lant

i s fu r th er ind ic at e d by m ak ing th e p lant th e sa m e co l o r as t h e go d . The

body of th e eas tern god i s wh i te ; so i s th e s talk of corn at h i s le ft,in

t h e sou th eas t . The'

body o f th e sou th e rn go d i s b l u e ; so i s the bean

s tal k bes i d e h i m , in t h e sou t h wes t . Th e bo d y o f t h e wes tern go d i s

ye l l o w ; so i s h i s p u m p k in v ine , in th e nor th wes t . Th e bo d y of th e

nor th go d i s blac k ; so i s t h e tobacco p lant , wh ich i s und er h i s s p ec ia l

p ro tec t i on,in th e nor t h eas t .

1 65 . Eac h o f th e fou r sacre d p lants i s re p resente d as grow ing fro m

fi v e w h i t e roo ts in t h e cent ra l wa te rs and s p rea d ing ou twar d s to t h e

p eri p h ery of the p ic tu re. Th e go d s for m one c ross w hose l i m bs are d i

rec ted to th e fo u r car d ina l p o ints ; th e p lant s for m ano th er cross ha v ing

a co m m on center Wi t h th e fi rs t na m e d cross,bu t. wh ose l i m bs e x tend to

th e inter m e d iat e p o int s o f the co m p ass .

1 66. On t h e h ea d o f each yay i s an eagl e p l u m e ly ing h or izontal l y and

p o int ing t o th e r igh t . A s i m i lar arrange m ent o f fou r p l u m es , allp o int

ing in one d i rec t i on (c ontrary to t h e sun’s ap p arent cou rse ), may be oh

ser v e d o u t h e bask e ts carr i e d by the go d s.

1 67. Th e go d s are re p resent e d w i th beau t i fu l e m bro i d e re d p ou c h es,

eac h of a d iffe r ent p a t t ern. In o l d d ays t h e m os t. beau t i fu l t h ings i n

art th e Na v aj o knew of w ere th e p o rcu p ine q u i l l e m bro i d e r ies of t h e

nor t h ern races . Th e art of garni sh ing w i th q u i l l s, and laterwi th bea d s ,see m s ne v er to h a v e been p rac t i ce d to any ex t ent by th e Na v aj o wo m en.

They ob taine d e m bro i d e r ie s of t h e Ute and o th er nor th ern t r i bes,and

th ei r anc i ent l egend s aboun d in al l u s i ons to th e grea t es t ee m in wh ich

t h ey h el d t h e m . (S ee , for ins tance , p aragra p h s 3 2 , H enc e , to re p

resent the g r an d e u r and p o tency of th e i r god s , t h ey a d o rn t h e m w i t h

th ese beau t i fu l and m u c h c o v e te d ar t i cl es .

FIFTH ANNUAL R EPORT FL .

X VI.

s n m ws i SECOND GREAT PI CTURE . 449

1 68 .S u rro un d ing t h e p i c tu re on abou t t h ree e fo u rt h s o f i ts c i rc u m

fe r ence i s t h e ant h r o p o m o r p h i c ra inbo w or ra inbo w d e i ty . I t cons is t s

of t wo l ong s t ri p es , eac h abou t two inch es w i d e i n th e o r i g inal p i c tu re ,

one of b l u e,one o f red , bor d ere d and se p arate d by narrow l ines of

wh i te . A t th e sou t h eas tern end of th e bow i s a re p resenta t i on of th e

bo d y b e l o w t h e wa i s t, Su ch as th e o th er go d s h a v e , consi s t ing of p o u ch ,

sk i r t,l egs

,and fee t . A t th e nor th eas tern end we h a v e h ea d , neck , and

a r m s . Th e h ea d o f th e ra inbow i s rec tangu lar , wh i l e t h e h ea d s o f t h e

o t h e r for m s in t h i s p i c t u r e are ro un d . In t h e p i c t u res o f the Yaybi c hyd ance w e freq uent l y obser v e t h e sa m e d i fferenc e in t h e h ea d s . So m e

are rec tangu lar, so m e are ro un d ; t h e for m e r are fe m al es,th e lat t er

m ales ; and wh ene v e r any of th ese go d s are re p resent e d , by charac ters ,i n a d ance

,th os e wh o enac t th e fe m al es w ea r sq ua r e sti ff m ask s

,l i k e

o u r d o m inoes , wh i l e th os e wh o enac t th e m a l es wear ro und i sh , bagli kc

mask s,o f soft sk in, t ha t co mple te ly en v e l o p t h e h ea d . Th e rainbow

go d in allth ese p i c tu res Wears th e rec tangu lar m ask . I r i s , th e refore , i s

w i th t h e. Na v aj o as wellas w i th th e G r eek s a go d d ess .

1 69 . A l l th e o the r go d s bear so m e t h ing in t h e i r h an d s , wh i l e t h e

h an d s o f th e ra inbow are e m p ty . Th is i s no t w i th o u t intent i on. Wh enthe p erson for wh ose benefit t h e r i tes are p erfo r m e d i s brou gh t in t o

be p raye d and s ung o v er , t h e sacre d p o t i on i s b rewe d i n a bow l,wh i ch

i s p lace d on t h e ou ts t re tch e d hand s o f t h e ra inbow wh il e th e cere m ony

i s in p rogress and onl y taken fro m t h ese han d s wh en th e d raugh t i s t o

b e a d m ini s te re d . Th erefo r e th e han d s are d i sengage d , t hat th ey may

h o l d the gou r d and i ts contents wh en the ti m e co m es (p ara gra p h

1 70. In th e eas t , w h ere t h e p i c t u re i s not incl ose d by the ra inbo w,

we see t h e for m s of two b i r d s s tand ing w i th w ings o u t-s t re t c h e d,fac ing

one ano th er,th e i r b eak s c l ose toge th e r . Th ese re p resent ce r ta in b i r d s

of b l u e p l u m age cal l e d b y th e Na v aj o eol i (Mali a. arc ti c a) . Th i s b l u e

b i r d i s o f th e co l o r o f th e sou th and of th e U p p er reg ions . H e i s t h e

h era l d o f t h e m o rning . H i s c al l o f “

_col i , col i

” i s th e fi rs t. t ha t i s h ear d

w h en th e gray d awn a p p roach es . Th ere fo r e i s h e sacre d,and h i s

fea th ers for m a c o m p onent p ar t o f nearl y allt h e p l u m e s t i c k s u se d i n

t h e wo rsh i p o f t h i s p eo p l e . Two b l u eb i r d s,i t i s sa i d , s tan d guar d at

t h e d oor of t h e h o use w here in t h ese go d s d wel l ; h enc e t h ey are repre

sente d i n the eas t of th e p i c t u re .

1 71 . Here i s an a p p ro p ria t e oc c as i on to s p eak of a p ar t of Na v aj o

sy m bol i s m in col o r t o wh i ch refe rence has al rea d y se v eral t i m es been

m a d e . In th e majo r i ty of cases th e eas t i s re p r esente d by w h i te,t h e

sou th by bl u e,th e wes t by yel l ow

,t h e nor th by b lac k ; th e u p p e r w orl d

by b l u e and th e l owe r by a m i x tu re o f wh i t e and b lack i n s p o ts . Th e

c o l o rs of the sou th and wes t seem to be p e rmanent : t h e so u t h i s a l ways

b l u e and the we s t i s al ways yell ow,as far as I c an l earn ; b u t t h e co l o rs

of t h e eas t and nor th are. interc hangeabl e . Th e cases are rare wh erewh i t e i s ass i gne d to t h e nor t h and b lack to t h e eas t ; bu t s u c h c ases

5 E TH— Q Q

TH E M OUNTA IN CHANT .

occu r,and p erha p s in each i ns tanc e m er it s p ec ial stu d y . Aga in, b lack

re p resents th e male and b l u e th e fe m al e .

1 72 .Th e TH IR D P I CTUR E co m m e m o r at es t h e v i s i t of Ds ily i

‘Neyau i

to (page‘-behogan, o r

“ L o d ge o f D ew ’!

(p aragra p h To in d i cate

th e grea t h ei gh t o f t h e B itses-ninez th e figu res are tw i ce t h e l eng th of

any i n th e o t he r p i c t u res , exce p t t h e ra inbows , and each i s c l o t h e d in

fou r gar m ents , one abo v e th e o th er , for no one gar m ent,th ey say , c an

be ma d e l ong enough t o co v er s uch g iant for m s . Thei r h ea d s allp o int

t o t h e eas t,ins tea d o f p o int ing i n d i ffe rent d i rec t i ons

,as in th e o th e r

p i c t u res . Th e Na v aj o re la te,as al rea d y t o l d (p aragra p h th at th i s

i s in obe d i enc e to a d i v ine m and ate ; b u t p robabl y t h ere i s a m ore

p rac t i calreason, wh ich i s th i s : i f t h ey had the cruc i fo rm arrange m ent

th ere wou l d no t be room on th e floor o f t h e l od ge for t h e figu res and

at th e sa m e t i m e fo r t h e sha m an, ass i s tant s , and s p ec tators . E c ono m y

o f s p ac e i s e ssent ial ; b u t, a l th ou gh d rawn near l y p ara l l el to one

ano th er , th e p re p e r o r d er o f th e car d inalp o int s i s not l os t s i gh t o f. Th e

form i m m e d iate l y no r th o f t h e cente r o f the p i c tu re i s d one fi rs t,in

wh i t e,and re p resent s th e eas t . That i m m e d ia tel y nex t to i t on th e

so u th co m es secon d in o r d e r , i s p a int e d in b l u e , and re p res ent s t h e

sou th . Th e one nex t below tha t i s in yel l ow, and d e p i c t-s t h e go d d e ss

wh o s too d i nthe wes t o f th e Hou se o f D ew -D ro p s . Th e fi gu r e in t h e

ex t re m e nor t h i s d rawn las t of all, in b lack , and bel ongs to t h e north .

A s I ha v e s tated before,t h ese bo d i e s are fi rst m a d e nake d and after

war d s c lo th e d . The ex p ose d ch es t s,ar m s , and t h i gh s d i s p lay t h e co l or s

of w h i ch t h e ent i re b o d ies w ere or iginal l y co m p os e d . Th e glo'

i (weasel,P artori u s) i s sacre d t o th ese go d d esses . Two o f th ese c r eat u res are

s h own i n t h e eas t , guar d ing t h e ent rance t o t h e l o d ge . Th e a p p end ,

ages at th e s i d e s o f t h e h ea d s o f th e go d d esses re p resent t h e glo'

i -b i tca,

o r h ea d d resses o f glo’

i sk ins o f d ifferent co l ors w h i c h t h ese m y th i c p e r

sonages are sa i d t o w ear . Each one b ears a t tac h e d t o h er r i gh t han d

a ra t t l e and a char m,o r p l u m e s t i c k

,s u ch as th e go d s in t h e secon d

p i c t u re car ry b u t,ins t ea d o f th e bas k e t sh own befo r e

,w e see a c on

venti onali z ed re p resentat i on of a branch o f ch ok e ch erry i n b losso m ;t h i s cons i s t s of fi v e d i v e rg ing s te m s i n b l u e

,fi v e roo ts

,and fi v e cru c i

fo rm b l osso m s in wh i t e . Th e ch ok e ch erry i s a sacre d t ree,a m o unta in

p lant ; i ts woo d i s u se d in m ak ing cer ta in sacr i fi c ia l p l u m e s t i ck s and

ce r tai n i m p l e m ent s o f th e d ance ; i t i s o ften m ent i one d in th e songs o f

t h i s p ar t i c u lar r i te . So m e o t h er a d j unc t s o f th i s p i c t u re—t h e re d robese m b ro i d e re d w i t h sunbea m s

,t h e ar m s and l egs c l o th e d w i th cl ou d s and

l i gh tning , t h e p end ant s from t h e ar m s,t h e b l u e and re d ar m l e ts

,

b race l e t s,and gar ters— ha v e a l rea d y been d escr i be d w h en s p eak ing o f

t h e secon d p i c tu re . Th e object in'

th e l eft h an d i s a wan d o f s p ru c e .

1 73 . Th e ra inbow wh ic h inc loses t h e p i c t u re on th re e s i d es i s no t theanth ro p o m o r p h i c rainbow . I t has no h ea d , neck , ar m s , o r l o wer ex

trem i ties. F i v e w h i t e eagl e p l u m e s a d o rn i ts sou th eas tern ex t re m i ty .

F i v e ta i l p l u m e s o f so m e b l u e b i i d d ecorat e the ben d i n th e sou th wes t .

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MAvru EWS J TH IRD AND FOURTH GREAT PI CTURES . 45 1

Th e p l u m es o f the re d shafted fl ic k er (Colap tes (c u r rents var. mc x i canzzs )are near th e bend in the nor th wes t and th e ta ilo f t h e m ag p i e t er m i

nates t h e no r theas tern ex t re m i ty . Th r ough ou t th e m y th , i t w i l l b e

re m e m bere d , not onl y i s t h e Hou se of D ew-D ro p s s p ok en of as a d orne d

w i th h angings and fes t-eons of ra inbows , b u t m any of th e h ol y d we l l

ings are t h u s e m be l l i sh e d .

1 7-1 . Th e FOURTH P I CTUR E re p resent s t h e katso -

y iscan, o r great

p l u m e d arrow s . Th ese ar r ows are t h e es p ec ia l g reat mys t ery,t h e

p o tent h eal ing c harm of th i s d anc e . Th e p i c t u re i s s u p p ose d t o be a

the s i m i l e o f a re p resentat i on Of t h ese wea p ons , sh own t o t h e p r o p he t

wh en h e v i s i te d t h e abo d e o f theTs ilke-cigi ni , o r young men go d s , wh ere

h e fi rst saw th e arrows (p aragra p h There are e igh t a r r ows . Fou r

are in the center , l y ing p aral l elto one ano ther— two p o int ing eas t and

two o th ers,a l ternate , p o int ing w es t . Th e p i c tu re i s bor d e re d by t h e

o th e r fou r,w h i ch ha v e the sa m e relat i v e p osi t i ons and d i rec t i ons as t h e

boun d ing ser p ent s in t h e fi rs t p i c t u re . Th e sh aft s are allof th e sa m e

w h i t e t int,no a t tent i on be ing p a i d t o the co l ors o f t h e c ar d ina l p o ints ;

ye t. in d raw ing and e ras ing t h e p i c t u re th e car d ina l p o ints are d u l y h on

ore d . A m ong t h e c entralarrows , the secon d from t h e t o p,o r north

m arg in o f th e d es ign, i s t hat Of t h e eas t ; i t i s d rawn and erase d fi rs t .

Th e nex t be l o w i t i s t h e arrow of t h e sou th ; the th i r d i s t ha t o f the

wes t . The one on to p belongs to t h e nor th ; i t i s d rawn and e rase d las t .

Th e h ea d s are p a inte d re d t o re p resent t h e re d s tone p o int s u se d ; th e

fr inge d m arg ins sh ow the i rreg u lari ties of th e i r e d ges . The p l u m es at

th e. bu t t are i n d i ca te d , as are al so t h e s trings by w h ich t h e p l u m es are

t i e d on and t h e no tch e s to rece i v e t h e bows t r ing .

1 75 . The ground of t h i s p i c tu re i s c rosse d w i t h neb u l o u s b lack s t reaks .

Th ese we re orig inal l y p resent in allt h e p i c tu res . I ha v e o m i t te d t h e m

in allbu t t h i s , les t th ey m i gh t obsc u re th e d e ta i l s Of t h e re d u ce d co p i es ‘

It has been ex p la ine d to m e (al tho ugh in t h e m y t h i t i s ex p r ess l y s tated

onl y in one c ase,p aragra p h 40) t ha t allth ese p i c tu res w e re d r awn by

t h e go d s u p on the c lou d s and th u s were sh own to th e Na v aj o p ro p h e t .

Men canno t p a int on th e c lou d s , b u t acco r d ing to th e d i v ine m an d at e

th ey d o t h e bes t t h ey c an on san d,and t h en s p r ink l e th e san d w i th

c harc oal, in t h e m anmer in d i cat e d , to re p resent t h e clo u d y scrol l s w h ere

o u t h e p r i m al d es i gns of t h e ce l es t ia l ar ti s t s were p a int e d .

SA CR I F I C E S OF DS I L Y IDJE Q A SZAL .

1 76. The sac r i fi c es m a d e to t h e go d s d u r ing th ese c ere m oni es cons i s t “

of no th ing m o r e t han a fe w s t i c k s and fea th ers,w i th t h e occas i onal

a d d i t i on of s t r ings and b ea d s— a for m o f sac r i fic ialOffer ing co m m ona m ong v a r i ou s t r i bes Of the Sou th wes t

,incl u d ing t h e se d entary In d ians

of th e p ueb los . D u r ing th e s i x d ays’work in th e m e d i c ine lo d ge and .

t h e c orral , I saw bu t one l o t of t h es e s t i ck s p re p are d (p aragra p h s 86, S7)bu t I t h ink t h is lot re p resente d two se t s

,i . e .

,sacr ifices to tw o d i ffe rent;

452 TH E M O UNTA IN C HANT .

my t h i c a l be ings . It i s , h owe v e r, ind i c ate d in t h e m y th th at a c ons i der

able nu m ber of t h ese sacr ifices , cal l e d by t h e Na v aj o k ecan (Engl i sh e d ,kethawn) , bel ong to th e m o untain chant and may p ro p er ly b e offe re d

d u r ing i t s c e leb rat ion. I ha v e seen a m ong t h e Na v aj o a few v ar i e t i es

o f th ese d e v o t i onalo ffer ings and I ha v e ob taine d d escr i p t i ons of m any .

A l t h ou gh I c anno t re l y on t h e m inu t e accu racy o f th ese d e scr i p t i ons,I

w i ll p resent th em fo r s u c h v al u e as th ey may p ossess in i l l u s t ra t ing

th e genera l charac ter of th i s sys te m of worsh i p,a sys te m wh i c h m i gh t

p rofi tab ly o c c u p y for years th e best labors of an earnes t s tu d ent t o

e l u c i d ate .

1 77. F i g. 58 re p resents a kethawn be longing , no t to the m o untainchant

,b u t t o th e kledj i -qacal, o r c hant of t h e ni gh t . It i s sacre d to th e

You th and th e M ai d en o f the Ro c k C ry s tal,

d i v ine be ings who d we l l in Ts isnatc ini , a

g r eat m ounta in no r th o f th e Pu ebl o of Je m ez .

Th e o rigina l i s in th e Na t i onalMu seum at

Wash ing ton. I t cons i s t s of two s t i ck s coate d

w i th wh i t e ear th and jo ine d by a co t ton

s t r ing a. yar d l ong , wh ic h i s t i e d to eac h s t i c k

by a c l o v e h i tch . A

b lac k bea d i s on the c en

te r o f t h e s t r ing ; a t u r

k ey fea t h e r and an eagl e

feathe r are secu re d wi t h

t h e cl o v e h i tc h to one of

the s t i ck s .

1 78 . F i g . 59 d e p i c t s a

kethawn p er ta ining a l so

t o t h e kledj i -daga‘

tl. It

i s cal l e d kegau-

yalei‘

, o r

tal k ing kethaw u . Th e

s t i c k s are w i l l ow . Th e

one t o t h e l eft i s p a i nte d

b lac k ,to re p resent a m al e

ch arac ter (Q astc eb a k a)in t h e m y th and c eremo

ny o f kledj i -qacal. The

o th e r s t i c k i s p ainte d

b l u e,t o d eno t e a fe m al e

c h arac te r (Q astc ebaad )in th e sa m e r i tes . Th e

08. S -lc ri fi c ial s t icks b l u e s t i c k has a d iagonal F IG . 59. The talk ing kethflwn

(Regan) .(kecan

faeetat-the top tom d i c ate

t h e squa r e to p p e d fe m al e m ask (p a r agra p h Th e na tu ral l y rou n d

end o f th e black s t i ck su ffic i ent l y in d i cate s th e roun d m al e m ask . Th e

c o r d -i 1‘

) ped a roun d th e t wo s t i c ks i s s i m i l a r to that d e s c r i be d i n t h e

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mn THBWS -l SACR IF I CE S o r Ds i nr i a Q AcAL . 453

p a r agra p h i m m e d iate ly p rec e d ing . A bou t th e m i d d l e o f t h e cor d i s a

l ong wh i te sh el l bea d , shown in th e c u t. Th e breas t fea th ers o f t h e

t u r key and th e d owny fea th ers of t h e eagl e are a t tach e d to th e s t i ck s .

Th i s kethawn I saw once in th e p ossess ion o f a Na v aj o qaeali . I was

p e r m i t te d to sk e tch i t, b u t cou l d not p u rchase i t . Th e inter p re tat i on

gi v en of i ts sy m bol i sm i s that o f th e qacali who owne d i t. In t h e m y th

of kledj i -qaenli t i s sai d th a t t h e benefi c ent go d Q astc e'

elgi u se d th i s

kethawn w h en h e re m o v e d from th e p ro p h e t Co t h e e v i l s p e l l wh i c h

had been cas t on t h e la t ter by t h e w ind go d .

1 79 . In Sch ool c raft’s A rch i v e s o f Abo r i g inalKnow le d ge,P h iladel

p h ia,1 800, Vol . I I I , p age 300, i s a cu t i l l u s t ra t ing an art i c l e un d o ub t

edly o f a s i m i lar nat u re t o that sh o wn in F i g . 59 . It i s a sacr ifi c ia l

p l u m e s t i c k of the M ok i . Th e M ok i inter p re ter ex p la ine d to M r. Schoo l

c raft t ha t i t conta ine d a m es sage fro m th e In d ians t o th e P res i d ent

and th e p ar t i c u lars o f t h i s m es sage are fu l l y se t for th in h i s tex t. A t

fi rs t I d o u b te d i f t h e obj ec t could ha v e any o t h er p u r p os e than a sac

rific ialone and was incline d to d i scre d i t t h e s tate m ent o f the M ok i inter

p r e ter . B u t on l earning t ha t t h e Na v aj o had a s i m i lar arrange m ent of

s t i ck s and feath ers,wh ich was cal l e d by t h e s igni fi cant na m e o f kecan.

yalgi‘,o r tal k ing .kethawn

,I was m o re inc l ine d t o b e l i e v e tha t so m e of

th ese kethawns may answer a d o ub l e p u r p ose and be u sed to con v ey

m essages,o r at least ser v e as m ne m oni c a i d s t o en v oy s .

1 80. Th e c ac -b ikegan (bear k e thawn) s p ok en of in th e m y th c ons i s ted

o f two s t i ck s,each a s p an long

,one p a int e d black ( m al e ), t h e o t h er

p a inte d b l u e (femal e ) . Each had re d and b l u e ban d s at t h e end s and

in th e m i d d l e . Th ere w ere no feat hers or b ea d s . (Paragra p h

1 81 . Th e glo'

i -b ikecan, or sacr ifices to t h e wease l s , w ere fou r i nnu m b er,two ye l l o w and two w h i te . In p re p ar ing th e s t i ck s one end was a l ways

to b e h el d t o t h e no r th , th e o th er t owar d s t h e sou th . A t each end a

narrow ci rc l e o f re d and a narrow c i rc l e of b l u e were p aint e d ; t h e re d

be ing to t h e nor t h,i . e .

, o u t s i d e of the b l u e at one end and ins i d e o f i t

at t h e o th er . Th e wease l men d i rec te d tha t t h e s t i ck s sh o u l d b e bu r i e d

in t h e gro un d in th e sa m e d i rec t i on in wh i ch th ey were h el d wh en be ing

m a d e,l y ing fro m no r th to sou t h w i t h th e ou t er re d r ing at th e nor t h .

(Paragra p h

1 82 . Fou r s t i ck s p e r taine d to th e kli c tso-b ikegan : one was b lack , w i th

fou r wh i t e d eer t rac ks p ainte d on i t ; ano t h e r was bl ue , w i t h fo u r yellow

d ee r t rac k s ; a t h i r d was w h i te , w i th fo u r b lack d eer t rack s ; th e fou r thwas yell o w , w i th fo u r b l u e d eer t rack s . Th e G rea t Ser p ent sa i d to t h e

Na v aj o p ro p h e t “ Th ere are c er ta in m o l e s w h o , wh en th ey d i g in t h e

gro un d,scat t e r th e ear t h in a l ong w ind ing h ea p l i k e th e for m of a craw l

ing snak e . In s u ch a h ea p o f ear t h w i l l yo u b u ry th ese kethawns.

”

(Paragra p h

1 83 . Th ere are t wo s t i c k s be l onging t o the kethawn o f the l i gh tning

go d One i s b lack , w i th a wh i te z i gzag s t r i p e fro m end

TH E M O UNTA I N CHANT .

to end ; t h e o th er b l u e , w i th a ye l l ow z i gzag s t r i p e from end t o end .

(Pa r ag r a p h

1 84. The Estsan-tls igi ni , o r Ho ly V

'

V omen,sh o we d t h e p ro p h e t bu t one

kethawn s t i c k . I t w as p ainte d w h i te and d ecora te d w i th th ree p a i rs

o f c i r c u la r ban d s , red and bl ue,the b l u e in each case be ing nex t to th e

bo d y o f t h e p a inte r w h i le h e h o l d s th e s t i ck in d eco rating i t . Th i s

ke thawn m u s t b e bu r ie d at t h e bas e o f a young s p ru ce t ree,w i th t h e

fi r st b l u e c i r c l e nex t t o t h e t ree . (Parag r a p h

1 85 . Fou r s t i ck s w e re sh o wn by t h e Tc i ke- c ac -natlehi . They we r e

b lack,s p r ink l e d w i th s p ec u lar i ron o re t o m ak e t h e m sh ine ; d ec orate d

w i t h t h r e e p a i rs o f ban d s , re d and b l u e,a p p l i e d as in th e kethawns

o f the E stsan-ci gi ni ; and b u ri e d un d e r a yo u ng p inon,w i th t h e fi rst

b l u e ban d o r c i rc l e nex t t o t h e t ree . (Paragra p h

1 86. Th e two kethawns seen by Ds ily i‘ Neyan i at B i g Oaks

,th e

h o m e of th e (Iligin-

yos ini , w ere b o t h ban d e d at t h e end s w i th b l u e and

re d and had m ark s to sy m bo l i z e th e g i v ers . One was wh i te,w i th two

p ai rs of s t ri p es , re d and b l u e , r unning l eng t h w ise . Th e o th er was yel

low,w i th m any s t r i p e s o f b lack and yel l ow running l eng th w i se . (Para

gra p h

1 87. A t L ast M oun ta in, th e h o m e o f t h e sk unks , two ke thawns, e v i

d ently i nten d e d to sy m bo l iz e th es e ani m al s , w ere sh own to th e p ro p h et

and h i s d i v ine co m p ani ons . B o th t h e s t i ck s we re b lack : one had t h ree

w h i t e l ongi t u d ina l s t r i p es on one s id e ; t h e o th e r had th re e l ongi tu d

inalrows o f w h i te s p o ts,t h ree s p o ts i n eac h row

,on one s i d e . (Para

gra p h

1 88. Th e two s t i c k s sh own by th e sq u i rre l s,Glo ‘d s ilka

'

i and Glo ‘d s il

j ini,were p a inte d b l u e

,s p r ink l e d w i th s p ec u la r i r on ore , and s u rro un d e d

at the en d s w i t-h re d and b l u e ban d s . One was to b e p lant e d at. th e base

o f a p ine t ree and one at t h e base o f a S p r u ce t ree .

1 89 . A t Dsilya- ic in th e p o rc u p ines ex h i b i te d two kethawns . They

were v e ry sh or t,be ing eq ualin l eng th to th e m i d d l e j o int of t h e l i t t le

finger . One was b lack and one was b l u e . Each had re d and b l u e t er

m inal band s and each had a nu m ber of wh i te d o t s on one s i d e to re p

resent p o r cu p ine q u ill s .

“ B u rv t h e m,

” sai d (pasani , “ und er a p inon

tree .

”

(Pa r agra p h

1 90. A t Q oeestso fou r kethawns , rat h er elabo rate ly d ecora te d , weresh own. Two we r e hal f w h i te and h a l f b lack

,t h e b lac k p ar t ha v i ng

wh i te s p o t s and t h e wh i te p ar t h a v ing b lack S p o t s on i t . Th e o th er

t wo were ha l t“

b l u e and h al f yel l o w,th e yel l ow be ing s p o t te d w i th

b l u e and t h e b l u e w i t-h ye l l ow . Th ere w e re re d and b l u e r ings at th e

en d s . (Paragra p h

1 9 1 . Th e Tc iké-eigi ni sh ow e d th e i r v i s i to rs two kethawns , one blackand one b l u e . Each was a s p an l ong and was s u rro un d ed w i th th ree

p ai rs of ban d s,bl u e and red , p u t on in the m anne r obser v e d in m ak ing

t h e kethawns of th e E stsan-ti g‘

i u i . (Paragra p h To th e cente r o f

th e b lac k kethawn fi v e b l u e fea th ers were t i e d . To th e cente r oSthe

.3 b

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456 THE M O UNTAIN CHANT .

1 94 . B es i d es thos e referre d to i n th e abo v e l i s t , t h ere are m o re w h i c h

are a p p r o p r ia te t o d iffe rent ac ts in th e cere m ony , s uch as th e songs sung

at t h e obl i terat i on o f t h e p i c tu res , at the bu i l d ing of th e corral , at t h e

d e p ar tu re of th e akaninili , &c .

In so m e cases a number of songs in t h e same set are nearly a l i k e

t h e a d d i t i on o r su bs t i tu ti on o f one v erse , o r e v en o f one wor d , may b e.

t h e onl y d i ffe rence . S u c h songs u sual l y fol l ow one ano th er i n i m m e

d iat e su cc ess ion ; o ften, on t h e o th e r han d , we find a grea t v ar i e ty i n

s u bj ec t and i n s ty l e .

1 96. So m e songs are se l f-ex p lanatory o r re a d i l y und e rs too d,bu t t h e

greater nu m b er canno t b e co m p re h end e d w i t h ou t a fu l l know l e d ge of t h e

m y th ol ogy and o f t h e sy m bol i s m t o w h i c h th ey refe r ; they m e rel y h int

atmy th i c conce p t i ons . M any conta in archai c ex p ress ions,for wh i ch th e

sha m an c an ass i gn a m eaning, b u t whose e ty m ol ogy canno t now b e

l earne d ; and so m e e m bo d y obso l e te wor d s w h os e m eaning i s l os t e v en

to the p r i es th oo d . The re .are m any v oc ab les known t o b e m eaningless

and rec i te d m e rel y to fillou t th e rh y th m o r to gi v e a d ignifi e d l eng th t o

th e song . For the sa m e reasons a m eaningl ess sy l labl e isoften a d d e d

o r a s i gni fic ant sy l lab l e d u p l i ca te d .

1 97. () th e r p oe t i c a l l i censes are tak en, s u c h as th e o m i ss i on o f a syl

labl e,th e change o f accent

,th e s u bs t i t u ti on o f one v o welfo r ano t h er .

Th e m os t fa m i l iar wor d s are o ften d i s tor te d beyon d rec ogni t i on. Fo r

t h ese v ar i o u s reasons th e task o f no t ing and t rans la t ing t h ese song s i s

one o f cons i d e rabl e d ifii c u lty .

193 . F I RST SONG OF THE F I RST DANC ERS .

Q anie qao yae, qan ie qao y ae

Q an ie i c oa-yé oaye.

Q adynnii i a (lac yae, 9 . Q adJi nii-‘

i a (lab yae,

Kac d s ilcilli y ili qab yae, 10. Kac d silli tsoi’

qao yae,‘

Caltso i’

ts‘

e'

e qao y ac , 1 1 . B i tseli tsoi‘

qab yac ,

C ija c i gelgo qao y ae. 12 . C ija c i gelgo qao yae.

Nah i i ni ch i oayo, nah i i ni Oo he.

”

ah i i ni , etc .

N iqo y astc adj e qao yae, 1 3 . N iqoyastc adje qao yae,Kac d silcolij i qao yae, 1 4. Rae d s illakaie (lab yae

l( in i b i tsée qab yae, 1 5 . A‘a‘i tsce qab y ae,

C ija c i gelgo qao yae. 1 6. C ij a c igelgo qab y ae.

Nat-h i i n i , etc . Nah i i ni , etc .

199 . Transla t ion. Q adJinai ,“ P lac e-whe re- th ey c am e- u p , a loc a l i ty i n

San J u an M o unta ins w he re . ac c o r d ing to th e i r my tho logy , the Na v aj o e m e rgedf ro m the lowe r wo r l d to th is: 5

,1 3 . N i qoyastcadj e , ano th e r na m e for Q adj ina

’

i . 2,6 ,

10,1 4 . Kac , now ; d s il, m o u nta in ; cilhy ili , b lac k ; colij i , b l ue ; li tsoi

'

, ye l low ; lakai e ,w h i te . These v e rses r efe r to fo u r m o unta ins su r ro und ing Q adj ina

'

i , w h i c h are des ig

nate d by c o lo rs only to ind i c ate the i r to pog raph i c a l pos i t ions. 3 , 7 , 1 1 , 1 5 .

‘

Caltso'

i :

aca litso’

i,

“

y e l low w ing ,

’a la rge b i r d o f p r ey ; k ini , h en hawk ; b i tseli tsoi ,

“ ye l lowta i l , ” a b i r d o f undete r m ined spe c ies ; a ‘

a‘i , m agp i e ; tse , a ta i l ; hi tse, i ts ta i l . 4

,8,

1 6. G u n, m y t reasu r e ; c igel , my (les i d eratnm,my u l t i m atu m ,

the only th ing I

45 7MAT'

e WS -l SONGS OF SE Q UEN CE .

When s u ppo sed to be sa i d by a go d ,as -i n th is song, i t m eans the par

ti c u lar sac r i fic e w h i c h i s a'

pproln‘iate to h i m . In t h is c ase p ro bab ly the feat-he r s

spoken o f are c igel and the m o unta ins “c ij-a .

” The. r ef ra in “ qat‘ i yah” i s a poet i cm od i fic at i on o f qaa

‘

,i t l'oo m s u p , o r s t i c ks u p , sa i d o f so m e lof ty o bj ec t v i s i b le i n

the d istanc e , who se base c anno t be seen.

w i l l ac c ep t .

200. F r ee t ransla t ion.

-Plac e -whenc e -they~ c ame - u p loo m s u p ,

Now the blac k m o unta in lo o m s u p,

The ta i l o f the “ ye l low w ing” lo o m s u p

,

My t reasu r e, m y sac ri fic e , lo o m u p .

Land -w he re -th '

ey-n-i o v ed -o u t l o o m s u p ,

Now the b l u e m o unta in l o o m s u p ,The ta i l o f the hen-hawk lo o m s u p

,

My t r easu r e , m y sac r i fi c e , lo o m u p .

Plac e -whenc e- they -c a m e - u p loo m s u p ,

Now the ye l low m o u nta in lo o m s n-p ,

The ta i l that i s ye l low l oo m s u p ,

My t r easu r e , my sac r ifi c e , lo o m u p .

Land -w he r e - they-mo -ved - o u t lo o m s u p ,Now th e wh i te m o unta in l o o m s u p ,The ta i l o f the m agp ie l oo m s u p ,

M y t r easu r e,my sac r i fi c e

,l oo m u p .

201 . r i nsr so x c o n T H E M o t'

x n i x sr-rns r .

l. Yi k i cas i z i ni ,

2 . Kac fl‘

s i-Ih i-Jli i g i ni ,3 Kac k z

’

ttso -

y i scani ,

Aw Ka-c Te ik-c g ig-m i ,I . Kat-so y c y i sc z

‘

i ni ,

H. Yi k i stas i z i u i ,

9 . Tsita bai ilili ,4 . Ts-i ¢a b at-Eilili ,5 . B ij a. 10. B ij a-

y c tig i ngo .

202 . Transla t ion.

—1 , 8. Yi k i,u po n i t ; tasrz in, h e s tands o n h igh .

“2 , 6 . Kag, now ,t-s i lke

,yo ung m an ; tc i ke, y o u ng w o m an ; ttig i ni , ho ly. 3 .

-y iscau , the g r eatp l u m ed a r r ow ; k zi tsoy e y iscan, w i th the g r eat p l u m ed a r r ow . 4

,9 . Ts igfia , t r u ly ,

v e r i ly ; ba i il‘

ili,an a l i l i

,a show

,a r i te

,o r i m p le m ent u se d in a danc e fo r h i m . 6

,

10. B ij a,h is t r easu r e , h i s spec ialp ro pe r ty ,

h i s pec u l i a r lie-long ing ; y e , w i t h , a p r efi xfo r m ing no

'

nns wh i c h d eno te the means:'«fig ingo , po s it i v e ly ho ly or su pe rnat ura l .

Bija o

yetfiiging u m igh t be t r anslated“c ha r m ”

o r tal is m an.

”

“203 . Free. t ranslat ion.

V e r i ly hi s own sac red imp lem ent,

H is t reasu r e ,by v i r t ue o fwh i c h he is t r u ly

l-i -oly .

Hie s tands h igh u p on i tNow th e Ho ly Yo u ngMan ! Yo u n

'

g “i

owan,

i n se c ond s tanz a ] ,the g rea t p l u m ed ar r ow

,

204 . A reference to th e m y th and th e d escri p t i on o f th e cere m oni es

w i l l p robab l y be s uffic ient t o gi v e th e rea d e r an un d ers tan d ing o f t h i s

song . Th i s se t o f songs,i t i s sa i d

,was fi rs t sung by th e b lack sh ee p

w h i ch s too d on th e rock as a s i gn to t h e Na v ajo fu gi t i v e ; h ence th e

na m e . (See p aragra p h s 3 5 , 47, 48,

205 . s i x r u SONG o r rm : MO UNTA I N sne er .

-B inac i nnl-zi e ! fo u r t i m es ] o i i y ehe c o he.

G. Kac Tc ike-¢ igi ni ,7 . Na ts i l-ic i yes,

1 . R u e Ts ilk‘

e—(tiglu-i ,2 . Ca

‘b i tlbli

3 . Ts i¢a b i alili , F . Ts i ta b ialili ,4 . B-ija y e¢ i;g-i ngo , 9 . B u s retigingO.5 . Binaco i ilac o i iy

- il he oohe. 10. B inaco i ilae o i iyehe o ohe.

458 THE MOUNTA IN CHANT .

206. Translat-i on.— 1

,(3. Kac , now ; ts ilke, y o ung man ; tc -ike

, yo ung wo m an c ig ini ,h o ly one , god o r go ddess . 2 . Ca ‘b i tlol, s unbea m ,

s unbea m s ; ye . w i th . 3 , 8. Ts i ca ,

v e r i ly ; b ial‘

ili (pa rag raph h is danc e o r sac r ed imple m ent . 4 , 9 . B ij a , h is spec i a lp ro pe r ty , h is t reasu re ; yec igingo , tha t by m eans o f wh i c h he i s (Eig in, i . e . , ho l y or

su pe rnatu ral . 5,10. Binaeola ,

i t i s enc i r c led . 7 . Nats iliq, the r a inbo w .

207 . F ree lm nslali on.

No w th e Ho ly Yo ung Man,Now the. Ho ly Yo ung lV oman ,

\V i t h the sunbea m ,W’ i th the r a in-bow

,

V e r i ly h i s o wn sac red i m p le m ent , V e r i ly h er own sac r ed i m p le m ent ,H is t r eas u r e wh i c h m akes h i m h o ly ,

H er t reasu re wh i c h m ak es her ho ly,

Is enc i r c led . Is enc i r c led .

208. Wh ic h i s to say that th e grea t p l u m e d arrows w h ich th ey bear

are a d orne d w i th s unbea m s and rainbows . They sh ine in glo ry .

”

(S eereferences in p aragra p h

209 . TW E L FT H S ONG o r T H E M OUNTA I N S H EEP .

1 . Nay u na-ni tc enia ,4 . Nay u nani tc

‘

e 1 1 ia,

2 . Kac h ic‘

e’

iltsos tec h ia , 5 . Rae. b ieienac k oj i t ec h ia ,

3 . B i qolcego , toe-ni a. ti . B i qolcego , teenia .

2 10. Transla,li on..—1

,4 . Nay u nz

’

i ni,ag a in on the o th e r s i de

,i . e . , ac r o ss two v a l leys .

2 . B i ce, h is ho rns ; iltsos, s lende r ; b ieei ltsos , s lende r ho rns , i . e . , the dee r , b y m e tonowy . 3

,(5. B iqolcego , i t i s bec o m ing to h i m . 5 . R ice, h is h o r ns ; nac koj , t u rg i d ,

filled o u t, stu ffed ; b i cenac koj i , tu rg i d ho rns— m etony m i c a l ly , th e m o unta in sheep , Or-is

montana . The r efrain, teenia, he appea r s,h e c o mes in s igh t .

2 1 1 . F ree t ransla t ion.

Far beyond he appea r s ; Far beyond h e ap pea r s ;Now “ S lende r Ho r n”

ap pea rs . Now T u rg i d Ho r n”appea rs.

H is ant le rs are be c o m ing . H e appea rs . H is h o rns are bec o m ing . H e appea r s .

“ 12 . Th i s song , i t i s sa i d , refers to t h e t ime wh en the p ro p h e t saw

th e v i s ion of th e black s h ee p on th e rock . (Paragra p h Th e reason

for int ro d uc ing the d ee r into th e song i s no t ob v i o u s .

2 13 . F I RS T S ONG OF TH E T H UNDE R .

1 . Q ona ! Cona ! A‘ai yehe o o he ! repeat ] , 7 . Cbna-f C i i na ! A

‘

i -i y if he o ohe ! r epea t ] ,

2 . Theako i} ani ‘ ;‘S. Yii y ako i i an i

‘

3 . I‘i jm i ‘dj i c ani‘

; 0. An ilcan i ani ‘ ;

4 . Ko s b i y i‘dj e , 1 0. N

'

z’

i u i S c b ic ilako ,

5 . Nab i z ac qolego . l l . Nab i z aq qolego ,

6 . Gena ! gem ! A ‘i -i yehe oehe. 1 2 . Chart ! Q

‘

ona ! A ‘a-i yehe c o l i e.

2 14.— 1

, O, 7 , 1 2 . (Jena, an i m i tat ion o f the t h unde r , no t a w o r d .

2 , 8 . Yi i cako ,abo ve ; y i i yako , be low ; ani ‘, any s o und . the so und o f the v o i c e . 3 . I‘t/t

n i ‘dj i , pe r ta ining to the th unde r . 4 . R e s, c lo ud itilhy il, b lac k ,da r k ;

o r towa r d w i th in i t. Nab i z ac qolego , aga i n and again so unds h is m o v i ng v o i c e .

9 . Anilqani , a gene r a l na m e fo r l a rge m eadow g rassho ppe rs —10. Nani ec , p lants ingene ra l ; b ic qako , i n a m ong the m .

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460 THE M OUNTA I N CHANT .

ou r songs wi llthenc efo r th be o u r c h i l d .

” The abo ve song,i t i s sa id

has some referenc e to th i s p rom i se ; b u t. a fu l le r e x p lanat ion,no do ub t

,

rema ins to be d i sc overed .

s 1 x r 11 SONG 0 1" TH E H O L Y -N 1;1 MEN .

A i ena .

Altsac ie'

gi i gi ni o o h in

l . Altsac ie' c i tri ni , «ti gi u i , altsac i'

é

eigm i co l i c .

lx ac Ts ilke qzi trlni , hakatr i'

c ¢ ig1n i ,Ds il(kilhy 1

’ l i c C, bakag ie (zigi ni ,Ts intso

'

i affilhy ili e bakag ie'

eigi ni ,

Tsiqfia b ialili , b ija yetig ingo , b akag ie

q' igi ni , oohe.

224. Translat ion. 1,6 . 11 1 1811 13 1a each s i de ; (zigi ni , a ho ly o ne

, a god . 2,7 . Kac ,

now ; tsilke, young man ; tc i ke, yo u nw woman ; bakagi , 0 11 th e s umm i t

,on to p

of i t. 3 , 8. Ds il,mounta in ; eilhy il, dark , b lack ; colij , b l u e . 4

,9 . Tsintso

’

i,great

s t i ck,a no t ch ed s t i ck u sed as a m u s i ca l inst rument i n the danc e . 6, 10. Tsiqia b ialili ,

tr u l y h is dance i m pl ement ; b ija y e¢ i ging o , h i s h o l y t reas u re , h i s tal i sman,h i s charm

h i s mag i c wand .

‘225 . Free translat i on.

Th ere 's a god on each s i de . 3 Th ere's a go d on each s i de .

Now th e H o l y Yo ung Man No w th e H o ly Yo ung \V 01nanI s the god on top of the b lack mounta in, I s th e god on to p o f th e b l u e mo unta in

,

W i th h i s b lack not ch ed s t i ck , Wi th h er b l u e notch ed st i ck,

Th e i mp lement of h i s dance , h i s mag i c The i mpl em ent o f h er dance,h er mag i c

wand . wand .

226 . Th i s song i s sa i d to refer to tha t part. of the my th where i t i s

related that the p rophet, fly ing from th e Ute,c l i mbed a h i llwh i c h was

t ransfo rmed into a mounta in. (Paragrap h Eac h mountain was

s u ppo sed to have a h ol y one on i t,who c ou ld , by m eans o f h i s no tc hed

s t i c k,p rod u c e the m e tamorph os i s . The mou nta ins were notnec essar i l y

c ol ored blac k and bl ue , bu t are th u s desc r ibed to ind i c ate that th ey layno r th and so u th o f the p rophe t’s path . (Paragraph

12-27 , TWE L FTH son ; o n TH E HO L Y YOUNG MEN .

Ed ita q: 1 1a éla yaina.

,l1 e

E i i i a d i ila éla ya i u o o i) yaaa vooo ! three t i mes ] ,Ea

“

L ei a -

‘

llla éla ) a i ua, qala éla ila inahe o i ihe .

l. Us i l ilhy ili i nloooo yaaa yooc , l 4 . Ds ilc olij i i u loo oo yaaa yooc ,2 . Ts intso

'

i ¢ ilhy i li inloOoo yaaa ye t e. 5 . Ts i u tso’

i colij i i nloo oo yaaa yeee,3 . C i c igelgo y a i u a, 6 . C i c i gelgo ya ina,

Q ala éla qa inah e o o b i e . Q ala éla qainahe Oo hc .

i228. Translati ow— l, 4 . Ds il

,mounta in ; ¢ ill1y il, b lack ; c o l t] , b l u e . 2 , 5 . Tsi ntso

,a

no tched st i ck u sed in ceremoni es to make m u s i c ; i u l o they l i e th er e (two l ongha rd th ings l i e ) . 3 , 6 . C i gel

,n1y u ltimat u 1n,

my des i d eratu m (sa i d o f th e pec u l iarsac r i fice wh i ch bel ongs t o each god ) , some th ing“r I (the god ) w i llh ave and accep tno th ing in plac e o f i t , my spec ial sac r ifi ce .

Altsac 1e c i g‘

i n i 00 11 1“(i . Altsac i ’eq

'tigi ni , altsac i i

i c i gi n i, altsac w

c!1i gi n i Oohé .

Kac Tc iké- ttigi ni , bakag i c ¢ i g ini ,Ds ilc olij i c c

'

,bakag ie(zigi ni ,

Ts intso’

i Q OllJl, bakag ie ¢ i gi ni ,Tsi éa b ialili

,b i ia y c tpigi ngo , b akag i e

c i gi ni ,

H artman's. ) sons s o r SEQ UENCE . 46 1

52 29 . Free transla tion.

There l i e th e b lac k mounta ins Th ere l i e the b l u e mount-a ins ;There l i e the b lack st i cks ; The re h e the b l u e s t i cks ;Th ere l i e my sac r i fi ces . There l i e m y sac r i fi ces .

230. Th i s i s s u pposed to be a par t o f the ins t ru c t i ons wh i c h the H oly

YoungMen and H o l y Young Women gave to the prop he t. The ts intso

i s m ad e of c he rry,wh i c h grows onl y on h i gh m o unta ins in the Navajo

c ount ry. The s t ic k s are painted blac k and b l ue . (S ee paragraph

The song al l udes to allthese fac ts .

23 1 . m o u rn s o x u o r rm : Y OUNG WOMEN \V HU B ECOME B EA RS .

Co¢ igi ni¢a oyab e Oo he, Co ltigi nica oyane , oohe,Cog

’

agi nita oya oya o oyaya Q 1_14; i oya o ya o oyaya ,

Hai yaya lu'

ti yaya bai yahe , ouhe. Hai yay-a hai yaya bai yahe , oo he.

1 . Kac'

1‘s i l ke-4; igi nie corti gi mta bai yahe , 4 . Kay

'

l‘

c i ke-¢ ig‘

1ni ii enc igi nci-a bai y ah e

,

oche,06110,

‘

2 . Bi tsi ntsoi'

e'

i ii . cocigi nea bai yah e 00 110, 6 . B i ts intsoie i i? c oeigi ntzu bai yah e oohs,3 . Ts i¢a b i a-li l ie

' b ija-

y efi gi ni e, oya oy z‘

1, ti . Tsi g-Ea. b i al

‘

rli'

e b ija o-

ya oya,

o y aya , oyaya ,

Hai yaya hai yaya h z'

ti yahe , o o he. H fi i y ay a hai yaya liai yahe , eohe.

232 . Tra.

-nslation. Coc igi nigta, c otigi ngfia, he i s not a god ; i t i s no t ho ly ; i t i s notd i v ine . 1

,4 . Kay , now ; ts ilke, yo ung m an ; tc i kc , yo ung woman ; ¢ i gi n i , h o l y , eu ~

pernat u ral. 2,4 . Bi ts intsoi , h i s great not ched s t i ck . 3

,6 . Ts ita , v er i l y ; b ialili , h i s

i m plem ent o f the (l ance or r i te ; b ija-

yeqtigi ni , h i s t reasu re wh i ch makes hol y ; h i sm ag i c wand .

‘23 3 . Free Iranslalion.

Th e Ho l y Y o ung Man i s no t d i v ine ; Th e H o ly Yo ung Woman i s no t d i v ine ;H i s great no tch ed st i ck i s not. h ol y ; H er great no t ched st i ck i s no t ho ly ;H i s mag i c wand i s no t ho l y . H e r magi c wand i s no t ho l’y .

23 1 . Th i s i s su pposed to -refer to an al terc at i on between th ese twogod s , 1 11 wh i c h th ey t r ied to be l i ttle. eac h other .

23 5 . I have ano ther song of th i s series,in wh i c h the idea i s c onveyed

that th ei r powers d epend on th e i r m agi c wa nds o r no tc hed s t ic ks .

2231'

s. ON E on TH E Awr. se x e s .

Owe Owe ewe yani ya'

i own" 11 11. a ! repeat th ree t imes ] ,Owe owe 1 11 1

1 .

‘Kc -c ac -natleh i na tc agah i , $3 .

'

1‘c i ke na tc agah i ,

2 . Kac ds ileilhy ili hakag i natc agah i , 6 . Ds il(zolij i bakag i natc agah i ,3 . Kae ni

‘ 111 2 319 inci coh olni dza ona ,7 . Kac u_

i ‘ i nzac inci , coh olni ¢a one ,

4 . Kac u i ‘ inzac i nc i co nioqta (ma . 8. Kac u i ‘ i u zac inc i , c oniOqza ona .

“237 . Translali on.—l. Ke , an abb rev iat i on of tc -ike ; Tc ike- c ac -natleh i , ma iden wh o

becomes a bear ; nat enga‘, she t rave l s far , sh e wal k s o r wande rs far aro und .

‘2 . Has,

no w ; d s il(bilh y il b lack m o unta in ; bakag i , on to p o f. 3 , 4 , 7 , 8. Ni ‘, eart-h , land ;i nzac , d i stant ; i nc i , i t l i es , i t st re t ch es ; co holn

‘

nia, see ms no t to b e ; conioca , no t ohsc u re o r d im l i k e a fa i nt d i stanc e . 6. Us i l c olij i baka-g i , on top o f th e b l u e mo unta i ns .

462 THE M OUNTA IN CHANT .

“

238. Free translat ion.

The M a i d Who Becomes a Bear wal k s far Th e H o l y Y<1 11 wa l ks far a ro undaround On th e b lu e mounta ins

,sh e wa l ks far

On the b lack mounta ins , sh e wa lk s far a ro und .

around .Far sp read s th e land . I t seems not far

Far spreads the land . I t seems no t far ! to her ] .

! to h er ] .Far spreads th e land . I t seem s no t d i m

Far spread s th e land . It seems not d im ! to h er ] .

! to her ] .

239 . E i nsr SONG OF TH E E X P L ODING ST ICK.

A'

i ena .

A'

i eyaai a a i eya. ie ee i e i 'c ! th ree t i mes ] 16 la“ .

1 .

’Ke- c ac -natlehi -flk0n i e 1i a“,

3 . Cali asci n i c o‘

y i‘¢ i¢ ilko ll i

'

e na

2 . Ds ily i‘(polkolkon ; dei l beko fl ni ce i s

'

nan, 4 . Co‘y i dsolkolkon ; co

‘bekonni c e i'

elna“,

I'

o na“ yaha 1151131 i'

e'

nan ai . Is'

11 an yaha 11 11-151 i '

é nan £1 1 .

240. Translat ion.

—l,3 .

‘Ke- c ac Yo ung W' oman \Yh0 Becomes a Bear ; Cabasc in, th e O t ter ; ci itilko “ , h e o r she set o u fi re in many p lac es . ‘2 ,

4 . Ds il,mo unta ins ; d s ily i ‘, i n th e mounta ins ; c o ‘, water , waters ; eo ‘y i ‘, i n the

waters ; tolkblkon , h e se t on fi re as h e went along ; bekonni ce , i ts fir es in a l ine , i ts st r i ngof fi res .

241 . Free transla ti on.

Young WomanWho B ecomes a B ear se t The O tte r se t fi re in th e wa t ersfi re in th e mounta ins In many p laces ; as h e j o u rneyed on

In many p laces ; as sh e jo u rneyed on There was a l ine o f bu rning wa ters .There was a l ine o f b u rning mounta ins .

242 . I t i s related that in the anc ient days,d u r ing a year o f great

d rou gh t,these h oly ones , on the i r way to a c o unc ilo f the god s , set fi re

to the mounta ins and the waters . The smoke arose i n grea t c l o ud s,

from wh i c h rain desc ended on the parc h ed land . The song all udes to

th i s legend .

L AST SONG OF TH E EX P L ODING srrc x .

H i‘

c i eee nad ia i a a i an a" ! tw i ce ] i e .

1 . Tc i ke- c ac -natleh ie'

c ig‘

m i qay i kalgo ; 5 . Kac Tc ike qfigi ni c i gi ni qay i kalgo ; ba

bani y a are. ni ya d i e.

2 . Ds ilaga (zazag i'

e ¢ ig i 11 i qay i kalgo ; (5. K os aga ¢azag i iF «t ig i ni qay ikalgo ; ba

ni ya are. ni ya are.

3 . Ts ita c i c i geliye d i g i ni q u y i kalgo ; 7 . Tsi ca c i c igeli y c ¢ i gi ni qay i kalgo ; bani ya are. ni ya are.

4 . Yane (zoOlane-goo ti-i s itsaay e . 8. Yau e f-o olanego o eis i tsaaye .

H ie i eee naaia, e tc . H ie i e ee naaia, e t c .

244 . Transla t i on.. 1, 6 . Tc ike- c ac -natleh i ,Yo u ngWomanWho Bec om es a B ear ; Tc i ke

¢ i gi ni , Ho ly Yo ung Woman, or yo ung woman goddess ; st' igi ni qay i kal, sh e j o u rneyed

s eek ing the gods ; bani ya, sh e fo und th em . sh e m e t th em . 2 , G. Ds il, mounta ins ;kos , c l o u ds ; aga, peak ,

s umm i t ; ¢aza‘, m any po int ing u pwards ; (d s ilaga (taz z‘

i g i , on

many mounta in peaks ) . 3,7 . Tsita, tr u l y o r tr u e ; c i gel , my des i deratum , my Spec 1 u l

sacr i fic e . 4,8 . (floti lane z qwolaita , some one does not be l i e ve i t ; ¢ is i tsa, I have heard ;

yane and other vocabl es are meaningl ess .

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464 THE M OUNTA IN CH ANT .

253 . A s the day l i gh t songs are s ung j u s t at dawn, in the c orral, be

fore the danc e c eases , the i r s i gnific anc e i s apparent .

OTHER SONGS AND E X TRACTS .

254. SONG o r TH E P RO P H ET TO TH E SA N J UA N ni vEn.

A l ena . 4 . B ichy i sgo c ini‘ 4zeya‘

l.Nagai c onilini

'

e,nag z

'

ti conili ni e'

,H a

‘

ini yea , e t c .

2 . B i cbyi sgo c in‘

i‘tlzeya

‘

H ai ni yea, ha i niyea, ru t-e nio ha i u e 5 . Nags-i sa“ b i coi

'

e,nagai c onilini

'

e,

yah e , o i ihe. (5. B i chy i sgo c in‘

i‘tl

‘

eya'

H ai niyea, e tc .

3 . Nagai c o intyeli'

e,nagai conili ni

'

e,

Translati on.— 1 . Nagai , that ; c onili ni , flo w ing wa ter, a ri ver. B ichy is ~

go,across i t ; c ini ‘, my m ind ; ¢eya

‘

,i t goes, o r , i t c omes , i t wanders to or from .

3 . Co intyeli , b road water . b i c o , wat er o f o l d age .

256. For or ig in and free t rans lat i on o f th i s song,see paragraph 22.

257 . some o r TH E B UI L DI NG OF TH E DA RK C IRC L E .

Oea o ea,ea ea, h e h e ;

Oea oea, ea eea, h e h e , c c nan a .

1 . Ds ily i‘Neyani , c ayoleli c ayoleli ; 5 . Te ike-qzi g

‘

i u i , c ayoleli c ay oleli

2 . Tc oyaj dzilhy ili , c ayoleli c ayoleli ; 6 . Tc oyaj c olij i , c ayoleli c ayoleli ;3 . Tsi c a a l i l i

,c ayoleli c ay olcli ; 7 . Tsitza a li l i , c ay oleli c ay oleli ;

4 . B ija ¢ igingo , c ay oleli c ayoleli . 8. Bri a c i gi ngo , c ayoleli c ayoleli .

258. Translati on. 1 . Dsily i‘Neyani . RearedWi th in th e M o unta ins , th e proph e t who

i nst i t u te d these c e rem on i e s ; c ayelCli , h e carr i es ! some th ing long and fl ex i b l e , as a

b ranch o r sap l ing ] for me . 2,6 . Tc oyaj , a spru c e sap l ing , d im inu t i v e o f too ,

spru ce ;eilhy il, black ; colij , b l u e . 3

,7 . Tsiqia ali l i (usu a lly tsi ¢a b ialili ) , t ru l y a danc e im

pl ement . 4,8. B ija «lzigi ngo (u sual l y b ij a. a h ol y t reasu re , a mag i c wand .

259 . Free translati on.

Reared Wi th in th e M o unta ins carr i es for Th e Ho ly Y o ung Woman carr i es for m e ;m e A b l u e spru c e sapl ing

,sh e car ri e s for m e ;

A b lack spru ce sap l i ng , he carr i e s fo r m e ; An i m p l ement o f th e r i t es,sh e carr i es fo r

Au i mplement.o f the ri tes , he carr i es for m e ; me ;A hol y t reasu re , h e carr i es fo r m e . A h o l y t reas u re , sh e carr i es fo r me .

260. The evergreen poles u sed in the danc e and in m ak ing the “ dark

c i rc l es ,” to bo th of wh i c h th i s song probably refers

,were

,inallc aseswhere

_lhave obser ved them ,made of p inon and not o f Spru c e ; bu t alldanc es

I have w i tnessed we re at al t i tudes Of abou t si x tho u sand fee t,where

pm on was ab undant and spru c e rare . In tho se port i ons of the Navajo

c ountry w i t h wh i c h I am fam i l ia r the sp ru c e (P seu dots u ga (tou gh est-i )

grows plent i fu l l y at the h e i gh t o f e i gh t th ou sand fee t , sparsel y be low

tha t. The re i s good reason for bel iev ing tha t the spru c e i s the tru e

sac red t ree o f th ese r i tes and tha t the p i i‘

i on i s onl y a c onvenient s u b

stitu te . The song i s c a lled Ilnasj in Benign,“ tha t w i th wh i c h the dark

c i rc le i s bu i l t .” It i s s ung by the sh am an at the eas tern gate , wh i le the

y oung men are. b u i l d ing the c o rral . (Parag raph l have. o the r

MATTH EWS -1 OTHER S ONGS or DsrL-

Yi-nz-i s Q Al L . 465

sli gh t ly d ifferent versie ins of i t,probab ly su i tabl e. for d i fferent o c c as ions .

The form gi ven abo ve i s rec i ted,u nder ord inary c i rc u m s tanc es

,whe n

the. pat ient is a wom an.

2611 . P lt-A YE-l’. T'

o Dsrni'

i‘N E Y ti N I .

Ds ily i‘Ney zi

-ni I

Dsilhanaea!

Tsi -lke

Nae. {tn-i

N i gel i cla‘.

w!"

(fi

nk-

Gab

\l

Ci he e aa ikilil.

Ci te/Eng c aasfx ilTil.

C ttses e'

a iieil'

il.

1-0. C‘ini “ c a-i i¢ i-l~i l .

Trans — 1 . Th e name of th e pro-phat . 22 .

‘

Ds-il,moan-ta ins

,ba-r-raca, eh i

-e-f

(or master ) for them . 3 . Tsilk‘

e, yo ung man. 4

“

Naeani , c'

hvi'eftai in. 5 .

T

i ge'l, y o u r

pee-altar sacr i fice, i . e .

,the h ecah i e‘lla‘

,I h ave made . 6 . Nale, a smoke, i .. e . ,

th ec ig are ttes (pa ragraph ter -you ; h i la‘, i s ma de . 7

,8, 9 , 1 -1 . C iik

‘

e , my -fee-t ; c i tcac ,my l ower e x t remi t i es ; c ivtses , ‘my bod .y c i inl"

,my nmi-nd ci ne

,my vo i ce ; -c a-i i¢ ilil, for

me rest-ore (as i t was before ) t‘ho u w i l t . o firgo , in a beaut i fu l man-net ; (me lee ,

repa i red,m ended ; .a-e ieili

‘

l, r estore m e th o u w i l t . 14. C

'

i tsi dje , i n the di rect-i onbefore m e ; c i

’

ke¢e, -fro-1n beh ind me ; r-1 w i l it tho u te-rrestrially beau t i fy . Gi zac ,

my w o rds ; (Jrfiklp i hGl, w iltt tfho u personally beau t i fy . 18,1 9 . Q o -idni , i .n earthly

beau ty qaszl‘

e, i t i s made , i t i s clone .

263. In o ther pla yers , closely resem bling th i s i n form ,the sham -an

adds :“ B eau t i fy allthat i s above me . Be

'

au tiéfy allthat i s below me .

Beavu tify allth ings aro und me .

”

264 . The d i vis i on into ve rses i s that of the c h anter . H e prono unc es

the nam e i n the fi rs t l ine ; the pat ient rep eats i t aft-er h i m . Then hegives o u t the word s i n the sec ond l ine, and so on. For free t rans la t ion.s

'

ee paragral'

i'

h 88.

26-3 . so x e o ur R'

I-S ING sr'

x D ANC E .

Oo 'niyay-e,

'

00ni yay e Ooa-niy itye , e t c .

y z'

the yah e hey iy oeQ izlfl-IJ IZ L

-

leaed.. eT s ilk-e- igigi

lnd

K zi-tso y i-seairiYi y oln

-ak t‘

m

Q ano qztkhsk t) .

Tc ih-anofi i-e

Akos n-i:si nle .

“Ya‘he, ya'he ie i a at.

266. Translat‘

ion..— 1 . Q anai gaeee , from whe re i t (th e s u n) r i ses .

‘

2 . Tsilke-qzigi ni ,H oly Y o u ng Man. 13. K atso -y i sgani , the great p l umed arrow . 4

,Yiy

-o h eswallowed sl ow ly o-r cont inu ou sly . Q

'

a-i -i o qa-kos'ko,i t comes o u t b y de grees :

6.-: i ha.n-oai

, th e s u n. 7,1-4. Akos n i s in

,he is sat i sfie d . 8 . Ina

‘

igzae tI-e ,from where

i t set s . 9 . Te i-ke-

gfii gi n-i , H o l y Yo ung VV o-man. Awetsalu y i sgani , p repared o r

plu u red c l i ff -Bose,i . e . , 0115 r ose a rrow . 1 3 . Kl'eh-an'

oai,th e moon.

5 E TH

so

9»

C ine calls-“

Jl i l .Q OJego gEitl

'

ge ae-i-tt. ili

'

l.

C‘

i t-s i t'lje (l(-)JO

-1t‘-1 .

{li kes-Ge q-ojolel.C i za'

e (L aq olel.

Q .ojOni qa'

s ule,

Q'

oj'o-u i qa

-sle,

Q o‘j

'oni qasle,

o oni qasl'

e.

Inareac tte

T-c i he- e igi .

Awetsal- y iseani

Yi y olnakbe

Q a-na qokbs’

ko .

Kl'

eli a'

n-oa-i e

Akos n i'sinle .

Ya'he , y-ah'

e eta ai .

466 TH E M OUNTA IN CHANT .

267 . Free transla ti on.

Where th e s u n r i ses , Wh ere the s u n sets,

Th e H o l y Yo ung Man Th e Ho l y Yo ung WomanThe great p l umed arrow The c l iff rose a rrowH as swa l l owed H as swa l l o w edAnd w i thdrawn i t . And w i thd rawn i t.

Th e s u n Th e moonI s sat i sfied . I s sat i s fi ed .

068. Th i s song i s s ung d u ring the danc e or a l i l desc r ibed in para

graph 1 42 . The c onc ep t ion of the p oe t seem s to be tha t, the danc e of

the grea t pl umed arrow hav ing been p roperly performed,the s u n

shou l d be sat i sfied and w i l l ing to do the b idd ing of the danc ers , i . e .,

r i se when des i red , on the pole .

269 . I NSTRUCT IONS G IV E N To TH E A KAN IN i L i .

1 . Ci‘ betcana n ili u lel. 5 . Ts i n etlolakan bacli y i s hy i sqanlle ; ako

2 . Ci‘«ta

‘naniltyelqso . bachy is hy i sdzilcale .

3 . Ci‘beni qogbils inlel. Arb inlg i n i zeee la

‘. 6 .

_Tse‘ elkag i akan hy i seinlle .

4 . tse ‘na akau 7 . Ak01 katso-y i sean ; a’

r‘

li inig i dj o c ile ,hy i seini le . qo iizig i nee beho

‘

eqoeilsin.

270. Translat ion.

.

—l. Ci‘

, th i s ; b e tc ana , a th ing to r i se w i th (as yo u progress ) ; n ili fll e l

,w i llmake for yo u . 2 . Ci

‘

, th i s ; w i l l carry yo u a l ong anywhe re .

3 . Beniqod-ilsinlel

,by means o f i t peop l e w i l l know yo u ; a

'

i b ini g i , fo r th i s reason, o rpu rpose ; n i ze, yo u r neck ; lzela‘, i t hangs (onc e ) aro und . 4 . at any l i t t l eva l l ey (y ilts is, a l i t t l e va l l ey ) ; ¢a

‘bokogo , at any gu l l y o r arroy o (boko ‘, arroyo ) ;t se‘na , ac ross ; akan, mea l ; h y i s¢ inile , h e sp r ink l es a l ways ac ross . 5 . Ts i “ etlol, the

roo t o f a t ree ; akan, meal ; bachy is , ac ross i t ; hy iseinlle , he sp r ink les ac ross ; ako ,th en ; h y i seilcale , h e s teps ac ross . 6 . Tse ‘ elkagi , on flat rocks ; akan, mea l ; hy i sitin

‘

ile, he spr inkl es across . 7 . Ake

'

i,th en

, nex t ; katso-y i scan,th e great prepa red

arrow— so says th e chanter , b u t h e rea l l y r efers to th e ineia ‘

, or eobolca, th e p l u medwand wh i ch akani nili carr i es ; ai bin ig i , fo r th i s p u rpose ; djoeile , hecarr i es i t (i n th ehand ) ; qolzigi

’

nee , from a h ol y p lac e (c ig in, ho ly ) ; b ehoeqoeilsi n, by m eans o f i tpeop l e know h i m .

For free trans lat i on,see para-grap h 102 .

272 . P RAYE R o n T H E P ROP H ET To m s MASK.

1 . (ta‘andj e qahasdsi go angel in i , c i li " . 3 . Aya

ni'

ga“c oc i sy i

‘

gole léhta ,c i l i “ .

2 . H y i ni naleni , c i li “ . 4 . Cai tlinil‘

i l.

273 . Transla t-to-n.— 1 . (ta‘andj e , at any t i m e to yo u ; qahasdsi go , when I spoke ; an

celini , a l ways yo u made o r d i d i t , i . e .

,granted m y req uest o r ass i sted m e ; c i l i n, my

domest i c ani ma l , my pet . 2 . Hy ininaleni , y o u were a l i v e (once ) ; c ili fl,my pe t .

3 . AyMta“ , b e su re, take ca re ; cote ,negat i v e ; c i sy i ‘go , that I d i e ; ilsolel, I des i re,

I beg (th e d i v i ded negat i v e m akes o ne word o f th e sentence ) . 4 . Cai itinilil, wat chtho u for me

,o r o ver m e .

27-4 . F or free trans lat io n, see paragraph 27.

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