60 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



the peak of Sau Mateo, or Mount Taj'lor — a mountain held sacred hj 

 the Navajos — to observe the various places on the mountain mentioned 

 in the Navajo myths. 



Leaving San Mateo he proceeded to Fort Wingate, and, learning 

 that one of the most important of the !Navajo rites was about to be 

 celebrated at a place called Nihotlize (Hard Earth), north of Fort 

 Wingate, on the Navajo Eeservation, he repaired thither without delay. 

 The ceremony was that of Dsilyidje qatal, or "chant upon the mount- 

 ains." It is called Ilnasjingo qatal, or "chant in the dark circle of 

 branches," from the great corral of evergreens, in which the public rites 

 of the last night are performed. It is kuown to the white men who 

 live among these Indians as the Hoshkaun dance, from one of the 

 public dances of the last night in which the Indian jugglers pretenei to 

 grow and develop the hackan or Yucca haccata. This last night's per- 

 formance is varied and interesting, and all persons, iucludiug whites 

 and Indians of other tribes, are permitted to witness it; but previously, 

 for several days, in the medicine lodge, mystic rites are celebrated, to 

 the most of which only the initiated are admitted. Dr. Matthews re- 

 mained in the Indian camp at Nihotlize ten days, during which time 

 the shamans admitted him into their medicine lodge and allowed him 

 to observe their rites and practices. 



His most interesting discovery on this occasion was of their S3'stem 

 of mythic dry-paintings, by which they represent with dry pigments, 

 on the sanded floor of the medicine lodge, various legends or traditions. 

 These j)ictures are from 10 to 12 feet in diameter, and are drawn with 

 (scrupulous care after long-established patterns, which are retained only 

 in the memories of the initiated. The drawing of some of the more elab- 

 orate pictures occupies the time of about a dozen men for eight or more 

 hours. Half an hour after the work is completed it is, with song and 

 ceremonial, entirely obliterated, and even the sand which formed the 

 ground work of the picture is removed from the lodge and thrown away. 

 Only one picture is painted in a d-Ay. Dr. Matthews made accurate col- 

 ored copies of these pictures, which will be represented by chromo-litho- 

 graphic i)lates to illustrate a detailed report prepared by him for jiubli- 

 cation by the Bureau. 



When the ceremony at Nihotlizi was over he proceeded to a locality 

 in Arizona called by the whites " The Haystacks," from the peculiar 

 ai)pearance of the rock formations there. At the Haystacks another 

 great ceremonj', probably the second in importance of the Navajo rites, 

 was to take place. Here he again encamped with the Indians, and 

 remained until the work of the shamans was done. The ceremonial 

 observances witnessed on this occasion are, collectively, called by the 

 Navojos Kledje quatal, or " chant of the night." They are called by the 

 whites the " Yay bichy dance," from the name of the principal masked 

 character Yeibitcai or (iebitcai, the grand uncle of the gods. Like the 



