LAND OF HOPI AND NAVAJO 123 



beauty again with each return of spring — never 

 dying, like mankind, but passing from youth 

 to old age to rejuvenate herself and live over 

 again her life, year after year, into infinity. 



Religious ceremonies are held at irregular 

 intervals, the prime incentive of all these cere- 

 monies being to heal the sick. Their intricate 

 rituals usually require nine days in perform- 

 ance, and sachems or priests, personators of 

 gods, are called upon to repeat a vast number 

 of prayers, interspersed with songs. All must 

 be done with absolute exactness, and prepara- 

 tion for the work calls for all but superhuman 

 memories on the part of the performers. The 

 medicine lodge and the sweat house are used, 

 with paraphernalia of ceremonial rugs, baskets, 

 medicine tubes, and costumes. 



One of the most remarkable features of these 

 ceremonies is the wonderful sand paintings, ex- 

 ecuted by the artist priests with colored sand, 

 representing mythical beings or occurrences. 

 There is no doubt that the sand painting por- 

 tion of the Navajo rituals was drawn from sim- 

 ilar paintings and work of the Pueblo Indians 

 and has been modified by the Navajo to suit the 

 requirements of his religion. Gaming, horse 

 racing, and foot racing are held in conjunction 

 with the nine-day religious ceremonies. 



