MATTHEWS. ] MYTH: THE FIRST MOUNTAIN CHANT. 415 
performed this healing dance over Dsilyi‘ Neyani as it is performed to 
this day. (See paragraph 131.) When this was concluded various groups 
from among the strangers entered, ove after another, and conducted their 
different alilis, or shows. which the Navajo then learned and have since 
practiced when they sing their songs in the dark circle of branches. 
70. When the dance began in the evening there was one of the invited 
tribes which, it was noticed, had not arrived. This was the Beqai, or 
Jiearilla, The Navajo asked the Ute where the missing ones were, and 
the Ute answered that they had passed the Jicarilla on the way; that 
the latter were coming, but had stopped to play a game of roulette, or 
na*joj, and were thus delayed. Shortly before dawn the Jicarilla came 
and entered the corral to exhibit their alili or show. It was a dance of 
the na*joj, for the wands and implements of the dance were the sticks 
and wheels used in playing that game. 
71. During the night a chief of the Navajo, while walking through 
the crowd, observed the grandmother of Tla¢es¢ini sitting on the ground. 
He approached her and said: ‘* Your grandson and his friend have done 
a great deed for us; they have made a long journey. Many doubted' 
whether they had really made it until we saw the multitude gathering 
jn our camp from the north and from the south in obedience to their 
summons. Now we know that they have spoken the truth. Tell me, I 
beg you, how they did this wonderful thing.” She answered: “They 
are ¢igini. My grandson for many years has risen early every morn- 
ing and run all around Tsotsil (Mount Taylor, or San Mateo) over and 
over again before sunrise. This is why the people have never seen him 
abroad during the day, but have seen him asleep in his hogan. Around 
the base of Tsdtsil are many tsena‘djihi (heaps of sacrificial stones). 
These were all made by my grandson; he drops a stone on one of these 
piles every time he goes round the meuntain.” 
72. When day began to dawn there were yet several parties who 
came prepared to give exhibitions, but bad not had a chance; still, at the 
approach of day the ceremonies had to cease. At this time, before the 
visitors began to leave the corral, the Navajo chief who had spoken 
with the grandmother arose and addressed the assembly. He told 
them all he knew about the swift couriers and all the grandmother had 
told him. He remarked that there were yet many who could not be- 
lieve that the young men had made the journey ; so, to satisfy all, he 
proposed that within twelve days they should have a race between the 
two fleet akaninili around the base of Tsotsil, if all would agree to re- 
assemble to witness it, and he begged them to invite their neighbors of 
the Pueblo and other tribes to come with them. Then other chiefs 
arose to speak. In the end the proposition of the Navajo chief was 
agreed to. All promised to return within eleven days and decided that 
the race should take place on the morning following. Then they dis- 
persed to their homes. 
