240 NAVAJO CEREMONIAL OF HASJELTI. DAILJIS. 
sprinkling the paint. This, however, had no religious significance, but 
was merely to clear the finger and thumb of any superfluous sand. 
The colors used in decoration were yellow, red, and white from sand- 
stones, black from charcoal, and a grayish blue, formed of white sand 
and charcoal, with a very small quantity of yellow and red sands. (See 
Fig. 118.) The decorators were carefully watched by the song priest. 
Upon the completion of the rainbow the song priest returned to the 
medicine lodge, but soon reappeared bearing a basket of twelve turkey 
wands, and these he planted around the base of the sweat house on a 
line of meal he had previously sprinkled. There was a fire some 20 feet 
Fig. 118. Sweat house. 
from the house, in which stones were heated. These stones were placed 
in the sweat house on the south side, and upon them was thrown an 
armful of white sage and Bigeloria Douglasii. A few pine boughs were 
laid by the side of the stones for the invalid to sit upon. The entrance 
to the sweat house was then covered with a black and white striped 
blanket upon which were placed two large Coconino buckskins one upon 
the other, and upon them a double piece of white cotton. The buckskins 
represented daylight, or the twilight that comes just at the dawn of day. 
The invalid for whom this ceremony was held took off all his clothing 
except the breech cloth, and sat on the outside by the entrance of the 
sweat house amid the din of rattle and song, the theurgist being the 
only one who had a rattle. The invalid propelled himself into the house 
feet foremost, the covering of the sweat house having been raised for 
this purpose. After entering it, he rid himself of his breecheloth and 
the coverings were immediately dropped. The song continued 5 minutes, 
when all stopped for a moment and then recommenced. ; 
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