The Mountain Chant, A Navajo Ceremony: Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1883-84, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1887, pages 379-468 — John Shaqi
The Mountain Chant, A Navajo Ceremony: Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1883-84, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1887, pages 379-468Matthews, Washington
Religion
The Mountain Chant, A Navajo Ceremony: Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1883-84, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1887, pages 379-468
Matthews, Washington
Mountainway (Navajo rite); Navajo Indians -- Rites and ceremonies
34. At the base of the bluff he again met Qastcèëlçi, and at this moment
he heard a noise, as of a great and distant tumult, which seemed to come
from above and from beyond the edge of the cliff whence they had
descended. From moment to moment it grew louder and came nearer, and
soon the sounds of angry voices could be distinguished. The Ute had
discovered the flight of their captive and were in hot pursuit. “Your
enemies are coming for you,” said the divine one; “but yonder small
holes on the opposite side of the cañon are the doors of my dwelling,
where you may hide. The bottom of the cañon is strewn with large rocks
and fallen trees; it would take you much time and hard labor to get over
these if I did not help you; but I will do something to make your way
easy.”--As he said this he blew a strong breath, and instantly a great
white rainbow spanned the cañon. The Navajo tried to step on this in
order to cross, but it was so soft that his feet went through; he could
not step on it. Qastcèëlçi stood beside him and laughed at his fruitless
attempts to get on the rainbow. After he had enjoyed this sport
sufficiently the ye (Anglicized, gay or yay) blew another strong breath,
when at once the rainbow became as hard as ice and they both crossed it
with ease. When they reached the opposite wall of the cañon Qastcèëlçi
pointed to a very small hole in the cliff and said, “This is the door of
my lodge; enter!” By this time the shouts of the Ute sounded very loud
in the ears of the terrified fugitive and it seemed to him that his
pursuers must have reached the edge of the opposite cliff, where they
would not be long before they would see him; still, hard as he tried to
enter the cave, he could not succeed; the hole was not big enough for
him to put his head in. The Yàybichy roared with laughter and slapped
his hands together as he witnessed the abject fear and the fruitless
efforts of the Navajo. When he had laughed enough he blew on the little
hole and it spread instantly into a large orifice, through which they
both entered with ease. They passed through three rooms and stopped in
the fourth. Here Qastcèëlçi took the bags from the back of the Navajo,
opened them, and drew from them some beautifully garnished
clothing--a pair of moccasins, a pair of long-fringed leggings, and a
shirt. He arrayed himself in these and went out, leaving the Navajo in
the cave. As soon as his rescuer was gone the fugitive heard loud noises
without and the sound of many angry voices, which continued for a long,
long time. At last they died away and were heard no more. The Ute had
tracked him to the edge of the cliff where he got on the tree; but there
they lost his trail and searched all the neighborhood to see if they
could regain it; hence the noises. When all was silent Qastcèëlçi
returned and said, “Your enemies have departed; you can leave in
safety.” So, taking a tanned elk skin to cover his back and a pair of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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