176 INDIANS OF THE SOUTHWEST. 
boughs come in and perform many seeming miracles 
such as making corn increase in a pot, and taking 
rabbits from a seemingly empty vessel. These two 
sets of dancers probably correspond to the Cuirana 
and the Koshare of the Rio Grande Pueblos. The 
Ute holds a ceremony similar to this each spring known 
as the bear dance. 
The Navajo have developed many elaborate cere- 
monies each of which is under the control of a school of 
priests, the numbers of which are maintained by those 
who apply for initiation and training. These cere- 
monies for the most part are held at the request and 
expense of some individual who is ill or indisposed. 
A special conical lodge of logs covered with earth is 
built in which the ceremony is carried on. All the 
ceremonies seem to be alike in certain particulars such 
as the use of a sweatbath, the making of many sand 
paintings, and the singing of a great number of songs. 
At some point in the ceremony, masked men enter in a 
procession representing the more important gods of the 
Navajo. Prayer offerings are made of sections of 
reeds filled with tobacco. They are painted with the 
colors and are deposited in the particular. situations 
prescribed for the deity for which they are prepared. 
On the last night a public performance is held which 
is largely attended. Besides the masked dancers 
representing the gods, clowns appear who play tricks 
on each other and often act in a very obscene manner. 
The songs and prayers are beautiful in their imagery 
and have many references to natural elements to which 
sex is attributed. Varying positions and movements 
are indicated in an established order. The number 
four prevails in the prayers and songs themselves, and 
they are generally repeated four times with minor 
