Ceremonial of Hasjelti Dailjis and Mythical Sand Painting of the Navajo Indians | Page 3

[Illustration: Figure 117]
FIG. 117. Gaming ring.
A bright fire burned in the lodge, and shortly after dark the invalid
appeared and sat upon a blanket, which was placed in front of the
song-priest. Previously, however, three men had prepared themselves to
personate the gods--Hasjelti, Hostjoghon, and Hostjobokon--and one to
personate the goddess, Hostjoboard. They left the lodge, carrying their

masks in their hands, went a short distance away and put on their masks.
Then Hasjelti and Hostjoghon returned to the lodge, and Hasjelti, amid
hoots, "hu-hoo-hu-huh!" placed the square which he carried over the
invalid's head, and Hostjoghon shook two eagle wands, one in each
hand, on each side of the invalid's head and body, then over his head,
meanwhile hooting in his peculiar way, "hu-u-u-u-uh!" He then
followed Hasjelti out of the lodge. The men representing Hostjobokon
and Hostjoboard came in alternately. Hostjobokon took one of the rings
which had been made during the afternoon, and now lay upon the
blanket to the right of the invalid, and placed it against the soles of the
feet of the invalid, who was sitting with knees drawn up, and then
against his knees, palms, breast, each scapula, and top of his head; then
over his mouth. While touching the different parts of the body the ring
was held with both hands, but when placed to the mouth of the invalid
it was taken in the left hand. The ring was made of a reed, the ends of
which were secured by a long string wrapped over the ring like a
slipnoose. When the ring was placed over the mouth of the invalid the
string was pulled and the ring dropped and rolled out of the lodge, the
long tail of white cotton yarn, with eagle plume attached to the end,
extending far behind. Hoslgoboard repeated this ceremony with a
second ring, and so did Hostjobokon and Hostjoboard alternately, until
the twelve rings were disposed of. Three of the rings were afterward
taken to the east, three to the south, three to the west, and three to the
north, and deposited at the base of piñon trees. The rings were placed
over the invalid's mouth to give him strength, cause him to talk with
one tongue, and to have a good mind and heart. The other portions of
the body were touched with them for physical benefit. When the rings
had all been rolled out of the lodge Hasjelti entered, followed by
Hostjoghon. He passed the square (the concentrated winds) four times
over the head of the invalid during his hoots. Hostjoghon then waved
his turkey wands about the head and body of the invalid, and the first
day's ceremony was at an end.

SECOND DAY.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SWEAT HOUSES.
The construction of the first sweat house, or tachi, was begun at dawn.
Four of these houses were built on four consecutive mornings, each one
located about 400 feet distant from the great central medicine lodge,
toward the four cardinal points, and all facing to the east. The first one
built was east of the lodge. A description of the construction of this
particular one will answer for all, but the ceremonies differ in detail.
Four upright poles, forked at the upper ends, were placed at the four
cardinal points within an area designated as the base of the house, the
forked ends resting against each other, a circular excavation some 6
feet in diameter and 1 foot in depth having first been made. Between
the uprights smaller poles were laid; on the poles piñon boughs, sage
and Bigelovia Douglasii (a kind of sage brush) were placed as a thatch;
all being laid sufficiently compact to prevent the sand placed over the
top from sifting through. The doorway, on the east side of the house,
was about 2-1/2 feet high and 20 inches wide. Highly polished sticks
(the same as those employed in blanket weaving) were used to render
the sand covering of the structure smooth. The sweat houses to the east
and west had the rainbow painted over them. Those to the north and
south were devoid of such decoration, because the song priest seldom
completes his medicine in one ceremonial; and he chose to omit the
songs which would be required if the bow ornamented the north and
south sweat houses. Under the direction of the priest of the sweat house,
who received instruction from the song priest, three young men painted
the rainbow, one the head and body, another the skirt and legs, while
the third painted the bow. The head of this goddess was to the north,
the bow extending over the structure. The colors used were made from
ground pigments sprinkled on with the thumb and forefinger.
Whenever a pinch of the dry paint was taken