Weekly Chemawa American., August 07, 1903, Page 3, Image 3

THE , CHEMAW'A AMERICAN.
3
with the wool side up, or a kneading tray
for tho bread when reversed the saddle,
with as many gorgeous silver tappings as
the family purse allows, and several bun
dles of gay calico or cretonne in which re
pose the few family treasures. When
there is a death in the family the hogan
must be burned at once a sanitary meas
ure that cannot be improved upon. This
is not the Navaho's reason, however. He
burns it to get rid of "Ah-chin-dee,"
the evil spirit who is believed to take pos
session of a house after a death. In order
to thwart the machinations of this same
malevolent spirit, even the tracks of the
mourners and medicine men who leave
the hogan must be brushed over and
effaced with a twig to prevent his follow
ing them. Among other prevalent super
stitions, the most common is that the
man who looks on his mother-in-law will
go blind. This unfortunate possibility
keeps the mother-in-law constantly on
the alert to guard against an encounter
that would bring trouble to all concerned.
Still another belief among the Navahos is
that if they eat chicken or eggs they will
thenceforward be obliged to crow like
roosters in the night.
It is in line with these superstitions
that the medicine men, who are religious
teachers as well at doctors and sorcerers,
have kept their hold upon the people. A
Navaho family is seldom too poor to en
gage the services of a medicine man to
sing over some sick member of the family,
payment being usually made with a sheep
or its equivalent. Armed with rattles
made of gourds, a big bowl of some un
holy looking brew, and a varied equip
ment of medicaments consisting in part
of the bones of a blue heron and the rat
tles of a snake, he makes his appearance
at the hogan. A hot fire is lighted in the
center of the room, the invalid is propped
up near it, and the relatives gather about
in a circle. Then the powwow begins with
a mournful minor chant having number
less crescendos and diminuendos accom
panying the entire performance which
frequently lasts for hours." In extreme
cases, the face of the sufferer is often
painted coal black, except the forehead
which is red. When a Navaho realizes
that death is coming he prepares for it by
turning on the right side with one hand
under the cheek and the knees drawn up.
The women among the Navahos find their
work mainly in the cooking and the weav
ing. The former is soon attended to. The
loaves of bread, mixed on the sheepskin,
are baked in the ashes, not a single dish
being used in the " whole operation. If
they have mutton, it is roasted on the
coals or on a spit in front of the fire, in
front of the fire, in genuine Homeric
style. An empty tomato can serves to
boil the coffee which they dearly love.
When they cannot afford that, a brew is
made of "Mormon tea," from a , desert
plant whose taste is a blend of catnip and
sage. When they eat, all sit about in a
circle, using their fingers in lieu of other
implements. In the comparatively few
cases where the women have been able to
receive instruction in the housewifely
arts from the field matrons in New Mexico
or from Mrs. Johnstone in Arizona, they
have shown themselves apt pupils, willing
and eager to learn.
The old bars are by daisies hid,
And tangled sweets of summer-time;
The chirping of the katydid
Is mingled with the vespers chime.
Long, purple shadows softly fall
Across the meadows and down the lane,
And from the vine-clasped old stone walls
I see the cattle come again.
Brindle and Buttercup, Sue and Bess,
With tinkle of hell and gentle "moo,"
Pulling the long, wet blades of grass,
Cropping the daisies out of the dew.
Homeward, adown the fragrant lane,
I follow slowly their lagging tread,
Until in the door-yard we pause again,
Under the bars of the sunset red.
Afar the meadows are stretching wide,
And billows of grain toss tassels like foam ;
I love the peace of the country-side,
And the twilight hour when the cows come
home.
By Illyria Turner.