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

For weeks past the NavaIos In the
vicinity Of ShlprOCk had been negOti-
Hting. arranging, considering ana pre-
pairing Ia have the sacred fire dance
held AT thaLpWnt during the big fair,
but while they seemed to be- accom-
plishIng their purpose, nothing was
certain until few days before tho
time set, when the chief fire dancer,
cine man, came.
The sacred ceremony cOul' not be
performed without the consent and
assistance OF him ana his advisers. /;
had never before been witnessed by
more than "A scant half dozen white
people at any one time ana Of course
the medicine men had n great deal of
reluctance about giving IL at all whom
1t was known there would be so many
Visitors liut by great deal Of per-
suasi0n In tho way OF influence, prom
ises. property, and cash, this object
was accomplished and the met lclne
men arrived with all their equipment
a few days before the event.
Thcy were located at a large hogan
about mile east Of the agency and
Wy blNtI liltll blIlNhl ufElI wv
performance Of the ceremonies and
the preparation OF the medicine for
the event. The fire dance does not
consist alone In the dance proper,
which takes place around the fire In
the big corral To the tune of the
Ehants and the sound of tie rattles,
but II consists OF all the ceremonies
and preparations Of some ten days OF
which the last nights performance In
the big circle Ii only "A part. The
medicine" Of the Navajo, and for
tnat matter of most Indians. does not
lmean alone mixtures 10 be taken In
trrnnlly ar applied externally, but II
,menns all the ceremonies, miracles.
prayers, applications. mixtures, or
means employed 20 cure n patient IN
particular or nppcase the wrath, or
court the favor OF the great spirits In
general.
The preliminary ceremonies, ex-
tending over several days were given
very little attention or consideration
by the white people In the vicinity o.
Shiprock. so Il is impossible to say
just what many " them were.
The first TO begin To attract general
attention were the sacred sand paint
lngB which were executed the fore
part Of the week and eliminated In
the best examples OF that peculiar ART
ON Wednesday and Thursday morn
ings. ON each OF these mornings
many of tho visitors were permitted
90 enter the large hogan where the
sand paintings were IN course OF ex'
ecutiOn.
on Thursday morning the painting
when completed was about 7xl2 feet
II contained two very long and gro
teAquely decorated ngures. one TO-
ward each outer side. two shorted u.s.
ures, one on each side nearer th'
center, many small hguTes and repre-
sensations Of animals and plants, this
sun. moon, stars, the armament. wat
er, the storm. dnd rest, and mos
prominently OF Pn the representation
of the heat giving aus warmth pro
duclng elements OF dire for fire to TN
Navajo represents the ereat apiri
more definitely than anything else.
A. each coEner Of tho finished SAINT
painting prayer sticks we're stucI
In the ground, and afier a brief res
the white people with a very few OK
heptIons. were required 10 leavs I'M
hogan after which one man was -
pectod az q patient and placed in tn
center OF tlst sane nhsntinb wheaas y
WAS made the subject for which pray
eFa we're offered. was givon' doses b
G'medlctne" previously prepared ant
i ~ Z /.