The North American Indian, Vol. 1Curtis, Edward S.
History
The North American Indian, Vol. 1
Curtis, Edward S.
Indians of North America
Most Navaho ceremonies are conducted, at least primarily, for the purpose
of healing disease; and while designated medicine ceremonies, they are, in
fact, ritualistic prayers. There are so many of these ceremonies that no
student has yet determined their number, which reaches into scores, while
the component ritual prayers of some number hundreds. The principal
ceremonies are those that require nine days and nine nights in their
performance. Of the many now known the names of nine are here given: Kléjĕ
Hatál, Night Chant;(4) Tzĭlhkí̆chĭ Hatál, Mountain Chant; Hozhónĭ Hatál,
Happiness Chant; Natói Hatál, Shooting Chant; Toi Hatál, Water Chant;
Atsósĭ Hatál, Feather Chant; Yoi Hatál, Bead Chant; Hochónchĭ Hatál,
Evil-Spirit Chant; Mai Hatál, Coyote Chant. Each is based on a mythic
story, and each has four dry-paintings, or so-called altars. Besides these
nine days’ ceremonies there are others whose performance requires four
days, and many simpler ones requiring only a single day, each with its own
dry-painting.
[Illustration: _Pĭké̆hodĭklad_ - Navaho]
_Pĭké̆hodĭklad_ - Navaho
_From Copyright Photograph 1907 by E.S. Curtis_
This, the first of the dry-paintings employed in the rites of the Mountain
Chant—a nine days’ healing ceremony of the Navaho—as in the Night Chant,
is used on the fifth night, when the purpose of the performance is to
frighten the patient, and thus banish the evil within him. The name of
this painting, "Frighten Him On It," is identical with that of the one
used at the corresponding moment in the Night Chant.
The whole represents the den of a hibernating bear. Inside the ceremonial
hogán is thrown up a bank of earth two or three feet high, with an opening
toward the doorway. Colored earths picture bear-tracks leading in;
bear-tracks and sunlight—sun dogs—are represented at the four quarters,
and the bear himself, streaked with sunlight, in the centre. The twigs at
the entrance of the bear den represent trees, behind which bears are wont
to dig their dens in the mountain side. Everything tends to make the
patient think of bears. He enters midst deep silence and takes his seat
upon the pictured animal. The play of his imagination has barely begun
when a man, painted and garbed as a bear, rushes in, uttering hideous
snarls and growls, in which all assembled join. Women patients seldom fail
to faint.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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