The Washington times., 1906-07-22
Where GirISAre Sold and MOtherS-in-Law Rule

the bricegroom's people. but not. OF
course, TO the same amount.
'"rhc wcmen OF the brides family
prepare corn meal pCrridge. which IS
poured into the wedding basket The
brides uncle then sTrinkles a circular
ring and cross Of ths sacred blue pol
len OF tie larkspur upon the pOrridge.
near the outer edge ana IN the center
the bride has hitherto been iy'~T
side her mother, concealed under d Jlan-
ket, on the wOmaus 3 side 0f the hogan
thuU. After callin~ 20 her 20 come 70
him. her uncle seas her on the west
side OF the hut. and the bridegroom sits
down before her. witt h-s face toward
hers ana the basket Of poruuge set be-
tween JuCm.
A g1urd Of water Is then given 10
the bride. who pHurs some OF 81 on the
BRIDEGROOM : hands while he washes
them. and ge tuen performs ike Of
flee for her. With the n-sL two uugrrs
of the right hand ne then takes a pincn
Of porridgr, just where The nne OF pollen
touches Jne circle OF the east side. Ho
eats tlis one pinch. and the bride dps
with her finger from the same place
"lte theu axes ia succt ssion a plncn
from tine other places where the lines
toucu tine circle and a hlal piucn from
rn. center. the bride unEers following
his The basHrJ or poriicSe is then
D. ,
speedily degour 10 with merry clamOr. =
c.s,o4n analogous to dividing the bride 5
CAKE al wedding. he elder relatives
OK the couple now give them mucn BOOd
and weigh-y advice. and the marriage
The Navajos do not bury their dead.
Al least they do not inter them The
Navajo s superstition prevents him from
even SO much as touching dead BODY
So before life has entirely LETT the
body il is wrapped in new blanket and
carried 70 some convenient secluded
spot. where u is deposited on top Of the
gTuuad. together VITA all the personal
effects OF lhs deceased. ana II u be an
infant the cradle. frlnkeIS, exc, are
carefully deposited beside the DOdy:
When there are no longer any signs OK
life in the body. stones are piled up
around and over IL. in order, they say,
to keep he coyotes from carrying Il on
II the deceased be grown person his
favoTite saddel pony is led up 10 the
grave. where il is knocked IN the head
with an AK Here 1t lies. with bridles
saddle, and blanket, ready for the jour
nev To the spirit world
The Navajos never dig a grave them
selves though they like very much 20
have the white people bury their dead.
and II they are anywhere near where
white people live they VIII ask them, IN
case tCey have death IN the family,
10 take charge Of the body and bury IL.
II by chance one OF their number dies
iu the hOIse before they have time 10
remove him they Immediately set fire TO
the hogan and burn II up. with its con-
tents. thus creuaUinE the body.
Believing that an evil spirit enters
body at death, and that ii they come IN
contact with the dead this evil spirit
viii enter into their bodies, they are
afraid 10 touch a corpse or even tha
house in which the person died,
Upon the death of the head of NaVa-
iO family all Ot his possessions 60 70
his relatives brothers. sisters. etc.-in-
stead OF descending 70 his wife and chill
dren. The custom is. perhaps. th 1ost
harmful IN effect Of any practiced these
davs by the Navajo.
ii often leaves the wife and children
destitute. eSDeciaIly where the husband
owned the f0c'rs as welI as the cattle
and the ponies However the Navajo
women usually own the focks. IN which
case the mother and children have some
means of scanty support at least.