ACROSS THE NAVAJO DESERT 59 



(The Navajos believe in repeating a prayer, 

 both in anticipatory and in reahzed form, four 

 times, being firm in the faith that an adjura- 

 tion four times repeated will bring the results 

 they desire; the Pollen Boy is the God of Fer- 

 tilization of the Flowers.) 



Prayer to the Big Black Bear 



" Shush-et-so-dilth-kilth 

 Pash dilth-kilth ne-kay ba-she-che-un-de-de-talth; 

 Pash dilth-kilth ne-escla ba she chee un-de-de-talth; 

 Pash dilth-kilth ne-ea ba she chee un-de-de-talth; 

 Pash dilth-kilth ne-cha ba she chee un-de-de-talth; 

 Ba ne un-ne-ga ut-sen-el-clish; net saw now-o-tilth a 

 Sit saw now-o-tilth go-ud-dish-nilth; 

 Ba sit saw ne-egay go-ud-dish-nilth; 

 Ne change nis-salth dodo ne; 

 Ne change nis-salth do-ut-saw-daw; 

 Ne change nis-salth ta-de-tenie nus-cleango-ud-is-nilth; 

 es-ze, es-ze, es-ze, es-ze." 



Prayer to the Big Black Bear (Translation) 



"Big Black Bear, 



With your black moccasins, like unto a knife, stand be- 

 tween me and danger; 



With your black leggins, like unto a knife, stand be- 

 tween me and danger; 



With your black shirt, like unto a knife, stand between 

 me and danger. 



With your black hat, like unto a knife, stand between 

 me and danger; 



With your charm send the lightning around you and 

 around me; 



