144 BULLETIN 139^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



which he commanded them not. 2. And there went out fire from 

 the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord." ^' 



It is possible that here is an example of the infraction of the regu- 

 lations as to pure fii-e, although so far as the text goes the offering 

 was made in the customary manner. 



A reversion to first principles and a clear statement of former pure 

 beliefs was a feature of the Ghost Dance religion promulgated among 

 the American Indians several decades ago. It was proscribed that: 



"They must have done with the white man's flint and steel and 

 cook their food over a fire made by rubbing together two sticks, and 

 this fire must always be kept burning in their lodges, as it was a sym- 

 bol of eternal life, and their care for it was an evidence of their heed 

 to the divine command." ^^ 



This command was observed by most of the tribes and had much 

 to do with the perpetuation of the knowledge of the method of fire 

 making by means of two sticks. 



BONFIRES, ETC. 



There is a large class of fire observances of almost universal prov- 

 enance. Reference is here made to bonfires kindled for various 

 motives, the basis of which is superstition handed down from the 

 past. • Frazer in The Golden Bough cites numerous instances, and 

 theii' application to their supposed benefit to agriculture and in gen- 

 eral to the social organization. Uncivilized tribes holding ceremonies, 

 at night make a chief feature of the bonfire, around which they dance. 

 A good example of this is the Navaho night chant with its weird and 

 picturesque fire dance. ^^ 



Among civilized peoples some such observances have degenerated 

 into an expression of joy or a form of exaltation, and such bonfires 

 are called by the French feu de joie. 



In the Ghost Dance of the northern Cheyennes, "four fires were 

 built outside of the dance circle and about 20 yards back from it, 

 toward each of the cardinal points. These fires were built of long 

 poles set up on end, so as to form a rude cone, much as the poles of 

 a tipi are erected. The fires were lighted at the bottom, and thus 

 made high bonfires, which were kept up as long as the dance 

 continued."''* 



LIGHTNING— SUPERSTITIONS AND CUSTOMS 



The attitude of man toward the amazing phenomenon of lightning- 

 has its origin in fear and a desu'e for protection from its effects. The 



1' Leviticus x, 1, 2. 



"James Moouey. 14t.h (pt. 2) Ann. Kept., Bur. Amer. Ethnol., 1896, p. 675. 



"Washington Matthews. The Mountain Chant, 5th Ann. Rept., Bur, Amer. Ethnol., 1887, pp. 379- 

 405, 



>*G. B. Qrinnell. Journ, Amer. Folk-Lore., vol. 5. ]\Iooney. 19th (pt. 2) Ann. Kept., Bur. Amer. 

 Ethnol., 1900, p. 925 



