414 THE MOUNTAIN CHANT. 
66. When Tla¢escini had done speaking, Indsiskai gave the following 
account of himself: ‘*It was but a little while after sunrise when I 
reached Tse‘lakai-sila and entered the camps of the four tribes. In one 
they were just taking some noca‘ out of a pit, and they gave me those 
pieces which I brought home. I entered the lodge of a medicine man in 
each tribe, scattered on him the sacred meal, and announced to him 
when our dance would take place. They all promised to be here with 
their people on the end of the third day, which will be on the night we 
hold our ceremony.” 
67. When the akaninilis came to tell their adventures to the medi- 
cine man, they were beautifully attired. They wore earrings and neck- 
laces of turquoise, coral, and-rare shells. They had on embroidered 
blankets of a kind we see no longer, but the gods wore them in the an- 
cient days. They rustled like dry leaves. The blanket of one was 
black and that of the other was white. When they came out of the 
medicine lodge they went around among the huts and inclosures of those 
who were assembled, visiting the wives and the sweethearts of the silly 
men who had laughed at them in the morning; and everywhere the 
women smiled on the beautiful and well dressed youths. The next 
morning the men laughed and sneered at them no more, nor whispered 
in their presence, but glanced at them with sulky or shamefaced looks. 
During the day the akaninilis took part in the game of na*joj with 
those who once jeered at them, and won many articles of great value. 
68. On the afternoon of the third day following the one on which the 
akaninilis made their journeys, a great cloud of dust was obseryed on 
the northern horizon and a similar cloud was seen in the south. They 
grew greater and came nearer, and then the invited Indians began to 
arrive from both directions. They continued to come in groups until 
nightfall, when a great multitude had assembled to witness the dance. 
After the guests began to arrive the young men set to work to cut trees 
for the corral, and when the sun had set the building of the dark circle 
of branches began. While the young men were making the circle the 
old men were making speeches to the multitude, for the old men always 
love to talk when the young men are bard at work. It was the greatest 
corral that has ever been built in the Navajo country. It was as broad 
as from Canon Bonito to “the Haystacks” (a distance of about six 
miles), yet the visiting tribes were so numerous that they filled the cirele 
full. Inthe mean time the sounds of singing and of the drum were 
heard all around, for many different parties of dancers, who were to take 
part in the night’s entertainment, were rehearsing. 
69. There was some delay after the inclosure was finished before the 
first dancers made their appearance. A man entered the corral and 
made a speech begging the atsalei, or first dancers, to hasten, as there 
were so many parties from a distance who wished to perform during the 
night. Soon after he had spoken, the two atsalei who led in the dance 
of the great plumed arrow entered, and after them came six more, and 
eS es Se 
