STEVENSON. ] HASJELTI AND HOSTJOGHON. Pili 
fect. And Ahsonnutli commanded the twelve men to go to the east, 
south, west, and north, to hold up the heavens (Yiyanitsinni, the 
holders up of the heavens), which office they are supposed to perform 
to this day. 
HASJELTI AND HOSTJOGHON. 
Hasjelti and Hostjoghon were the children of Ahsonnutli, the tur- 
quoise, and Yolaikaiason (white-shell woman, wife of the sun). Ahson- 
nutli placed an ear of white corn and Yolaikaiason an ear of yellow 
corn on the mountain where the fogs meet. The corn conceived, the 
white corn giving birth to Hasjelti and the yellow corn to Hostjoghon. 
These two became the great song-makers of the world. They gave to 
the mountain of their nativity (Henry Mountain in Utah) two songs and 
two prayers; they then went to Sierra Blanca (Colorado) and made two 
songs and prayers and dressed the mountain in clothing of white shell 
with two eagle plumes placed upright upon the head. From here they 
visited San Mateo Mountain (New Mexico) and gave to it two songs and 
prayers, and dressed it in turquoise, even to the leggings and moccasins, 
and placed two eagle plumes on the head. Hence they went to San 
Francisco Mountain (Arizona) and made two songs and prayers and 
dressed that mountain in abalone shells with two eagle plumes upon the 
head. They then visited Ute Mountain and gave to it two songs and 
prayers and dressed it in black beads. This mountain also had two 
eagle plumes on its head. They then returned to the mountain of their 
nativity to meditate, ‘‘ We two have made all these songs.” 
Upon inquiring of their mothers how they came into existence, and 
being informed, they said, ‘“‘ Well, let our number be increased; we can 
not get along with only two of us.” The woman placed more yellow 
and white corn on the mountain and children were conceived as before. 
A sufficient number were born so that two brothers were placed on each 
of the four mountains, and to these genii of the mountains the clouds 
come first. All the brothers consulted together as to what they should 
live upon and they concluded to make game, and so all game was cre- 
ated. 
Navajo prayers for rain and snow are addressed to Hasjelti and Host- 
joghon. These gods stand upon the mountain tops and call the clouds 
to gather around them. MHasjelti is the mediator between the Navajo 
and the sun. He prays to the sun, ‘Father, give me the light of your 
mind, that my mind may be strong; give me some of your strength, that 
my arm may be strong, and give me your rays that corn and other vege- 
tation may grow.” It is to this deity that the most important prayers 
of the Navajo are addressed. The lesser deities have shorter prayers 
and less valuable offerings made to them. Hasjelti communicates with 
the Navajo through the feathered kingdom, and for this reason the 
choicest feathers and plumes are placed in the cigarettes and attached 
to the prayer sticks offered to him. 
