Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-10-17

treated with an external application.
Tho latter was kept In IA ceremonial
basket and after its application To him
all NavajOs present who considered
they had AN allinent. dipped their
hands into It ana applied II to the az
Wected parts Of their bodies. This
ceremony completed, the sand paint
ing was destroyed by mixing II with
the earth, that no part az II might he
hesecratcd by those who were unde-
serving or unbelieVlng.
However this may appear to tho
white person. 1t Is all sacred and per-
formed In perfect reverence by the
lNavaJos. All Of the ordinary mem
bers of the tribe have perfect fWith
and confidence In the power of the
medicine men In the sOrccry. 70 what
extent tho medicine men themselves
believe In their ceremonies Is profile
matical, but II IA quite clear that for
the most part they occupy the same
position and act upon the same Inn
pulses and for the same reason That
the HindoO magicians do in perform
ing their miracles.
All Of the prelimlnarics having been
disposed Of, late Thursday afternoon.
many teams started for the mountains
in order To be ready AZ break OF day
To cut ana bring the cedar bOugha
from which tho large corral was to be
built. Not bough could be cut until
the day OF the dance, as every part Of
the gathering, hauling, and building
Of the big corral must be done on the
day preceding the hrc dance proper,
or II would have TO he abandoned.
The bOughs arrived from the hills In
due time and the corral was cOmplet-
ed late in the afternoon. Large piles
Of wood had been previously supplied
and at an early hour In the evening
the big IRE In the center OF the cir
cular corral was kindled.
The first act of the long night OF
| active dancing took place about .
o'clock when the performers inferred,
| circled tho fire for Il long time and In
| a dance executed a lot Of clOwnish
performances, and finished Ny APP
preaching the big fire 30 closely ana
holding their prayer sticks toward II
that the feathers were burned on, Inn
mediately after which feathers reap
peaTed on the sticks
SeconG, ioO L...,-.a-.y decorated
performers with prayer sticks circledr
ahen went 10 the west side Of the cir
Gle and placing the prayer sticks TO
their mouths and throwing their heads
back 80 the sticks pointed heaven
ward, apparently offered their prayers
Third, six performers very much
the same as second act.
Fourth. 20 performers, one-hah rep
ressnting u male, the other female
spirits the spirits very Enthusiastically
and rather beautifully dressed. feath'
ed head dresses with three points
each, entire costumes much orna-
lmented. After the usual circling OF
tho big tire all went to the west side
OF the circle where the chanterH were
located and the spirits performed q
dance, whIhc was both graceful and
interesting.
Fifth. practically the same
Sixth. practically the same, witt
change of dress OF the spirits.
Seventh, similar, the spirits coming
In come time after the other perform
erA
Eighth. very similar.
Ninth, same, with the exception
that the female spirit did not appear
fAt the end OF this act one Of the mos
magical OF the performances occur
feep A BLANKET was spread, ana neal
the center oft q ceremonial baske
EWan placed and In the basket
feather near the TOP Of which m
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