1898-99. | PRIMITIVE NATURE STUDY. 321 
highest orders of the initiated.” A synonym for “priest” with the 
Mayas of Yucatan, was dalam, literally “jaguar,” elsewhere they are 
likened to the owl and the prairie wolf (coyote). All this is summed up 
in the attributes of the “ medicine man ” of the Indians of Central Brazil, 
“ who knows everything, is able to do everything, who can metamorphose 
himself into any creature or thing existing, who understands all 
languages and all sounds of forest, air, sea and sky.” (Brinton, Z.C, p. 
351.) 
Though the shamans of primitive peoples, like the priesthood of to-day 
among civilized races, are responsible for some of the veriest artificialities 
and trivialities of religion, they have, however, atoned for these a 
thousand times by the love of nature which their songs and dances have 
kept alive in the masses of the tribe and the true nature-feeling which 
constantly reveals itself in their prayers and invocations. |The highest 
grace, beauty, truth of sentiment and expression are often to be met with 
among peoples whose social and political institutions still carry the 
wmpedimenta of barbarism or even of savagery. Following is a “ house- 
song” of the Navajos, sung by an old shaman facing the east, just after 
sunset. (Am. Anthr., VI., 353.) 
** Rising Sun! when you shall shine, 
Make this house happy, 
Beautify it with your beams, 
Make this house happy. 
God of Dawn ! your white blessings spread : 
Make this house happy. 
Guard the doorway from all evil ; 
Make this house happy. 
White Corn! (the spirit of), abide herein, 
Make this house happy. 
Soft Wealth! (skins, blankets, etc.), may this hut cover much, 
Make this house happy. 
Male (heavy) Rain! your virtues send, 
Make this house happy. 
Corn Pollen! bestow content, 
Make this house happy. 
May peace around this family dwell, 
Make this house happy.’ 
Mr. Stephen further tells us: “After singing to the east, other songs 
are sung to the south, west and north. These are all in strains very 
similar to the first one, but as the Navajo assigns different groups of 
deities to each of the cardinal points, he petitions for different blessings 
from the different directions. Thus to the west he sings to a mountain 
deity that the yellow light of sunset may imbue his dwelling with its 
beautiful influence; that the spirit of yellow corn may sit in his hut ; 
