GODDARD— APACHE MASKED DANCERS 



first-hand information could be secured from the men who were in 

 charge of the Gahi, as they call them. One man gave a brief narrative 

 of the origin of the cult. A blind man and a crippled one, having been 

 deserted, the former took the latter on his back and carried him along 

 the side of a perpendicular cliff which at one point yielded to pressure. 

 In the interior they found a paradise where their infirmities were 

 removed by a ceremony conducted by the Gahi, who also imparted 

 the rites which were taken back by the rejuvenated men to mortals. 

 The Gahi are believed to be still living in the interior of certain 

 mountains. A second man was old and his mind more or less un- 

 balanced, but his mania was so closely connected with his religion 

 that there was much doubt as to which was the cause and which was 

 the effect. The man had met the Gajii while passing one of their 

 mountain homes. They constantly visited him, furnishing him knowl- 

 edge of hidden events. By their aid he claimed to have made an 

 aerial journey to Washington. While no dependence could be placed 

 on information consciously imparted by him he was able to sing in 

 the phonograph songs the words of which were later transcribed. By 

 the same method songs were secured from a White Mountain Apache 

 informant. Since without doubt these songs are the most trustworthy 

 sources of information as to the essentials of these cults, a few examples 

 of those obtained in Arizona will be given in translation. 



I 

 When the earth was made; 

 When the sky was made; 

 When my songs were first heard ; 

 The holy mountain was standing toward me with life. 



At the center of the sky, the holy boy walks four ways with life. 

 Just mine, my mountain became; standing toward me with life. 

 Gan children became; standing toward me with life. 

 When the sun goes down to the earth, where Mescal mountain lies 



with its head toward the sunrise, 

 Black spruce became; standing up with me. 



II 



Right at the center of the sky the holy boy with life walks in four 



directions. 

 Lightning with life in four colors comes down four times. 

 The place which is called black spot with life; 

 The place which is called blue spot with life; 

 The place which is called yellow spot with life; 

 The place which is called white spot with life; 

 They have heard about me, 

 The black Gans dance in four places. 

 The sun starts down toward the earth. 



[133] 



