THE NOMADIC PKOPLES. 171 



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 sweat bath, the making of many sand 

 paintings, and the singing of a great number of songs. 

 At some point in the ceremony, masked men represent- 

 ing the more important gods of the Navajo enter in a 

 procession. 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 w^hich 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 w^ho play tricks 

 on one another 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 

 variations. The following prayer recorded by Dr. 

 Matthews belongs to the Night Chant. 



Tscgihi. 



House made of the dawn. 



