Page:Memoirs of the American Folk-Lore Society V.djvu/221

Rh He came to a steep white ridge;243 when he had climbed this about half way, he observed approaching him a man of low stature. His coat, which fitted him skin-tight, was white on the chest and insides of the arms, while it was brown elsewhere, like the skin of a deer. He wore on his head a deer-mask, with horns, such as deer-hunters use. He carried a turquoise wand, a black bow with sinew on the back, and two arrows with featherings of eagle-tail. He was one of the Tsĭdastóidĭne'.244 When the men met, the stranger, who had a pale face,245 looked out from under his mask and said: "Whence come you, my grandchild?" "I come, my grandfather, from a place near here. I come from the house of Pínĭltani," the Navaho answered. "My grandchild, I have heard of you. Do you know how my cigarette is made?" said the man with the deer-mask. "No, my grandfather, I never heard of your cigarette," was the reply. "There is a cigarette12 for me, my grandson," said the stranger. "It is painted white, with a black spot on it, and is so long (second joint of middle finger). It should be laid in the fork of a piñon-tree. I am now walking out, and am going in the direction whence you came. There are people living behind the ridge you are climbing. You should visit them, and hear what they will have to tell you."

545. The Navaho climbed the ridge; and as he began to descend it on the other side, he observed below him two conical tents, such as the Indians of the plains use. The tents were white below and yellow above, representing the dawn and the evening twilight. As he approached the tents he observed that two games of nánzoz were being played,—one beside each tent,—and a number of people were gathered, watching the games. As he advanced toward the crowd a man came forward to meet him, saying: "Go to the lodge in the south. There are many people there." He went to the lodge in the south, as he was bidden. A woman of bright complexion, fairer than the Navahoes usually are, the wife of the owner of the lodge, came out and invited him to enter.

546. When Natĭ'nĕsthani entered the lodge he found its owner seated in the middle. The latter was a man past middle age, but not very old. He was dressed in a beautiful suit of buckskin embroidered with porcupine quills. He pointed to a place by his side, and said to the Navaho: "Sit here, my grandchild." When the Navaho was seated his host said: "Whence do you come? The people who live up on the earth are never seen here." "I come from the house of Pínĭltani," the young man answered. "Oh! Do you?" questioned the host. "And do you know that Deer Raiser is a great villain; that he kills his guests; that he talks softly, and pretends friendship, and lures people to stay with him until he can quietly kill them? Has he never spoken thus softly to you? How