anged in
a row on the west side. A large fire burned in the center affording both
heat and light. The different sets, when a change of dress from one set of
men to another was to be made, repaired to this green room for that
purpose. This inclosure was also the resort during the night for many
Indians who assisted the dancers in their toilets.

At 10 o'clock the ceremonies opened by the entrance upon the avenue of the
song-priest who came from the green room. He wore a rich red blanket and
over this a mountain lion skin; immediately after him followed Hasjelti,
leading the four Etsethle (the first ones). These represented first, natan
(corn); second, natin (rain); third, nanase (vegetation); fourth, jadetin
(corn pollen). Their masks were blue ornamented with feathers and were
similar to the masks worn by the dancers; their bodies were painted white
with many rare beads around their necks, and they wore loin skirts with
silver belts; a gray fox skin was attached pendant to the back of the
belt, and blue stockings, tied with red garters, and moccasins completed
their dress. They carried in their right hands gourd rattles painted
white. The handles of these may be of any kind of wood, but it must be
selected from some tree near which lightning has struck, but not of the
wood of the tree struck by lightning. Corn pollen was in the palms of
their left hands and in the same hand they carried also a pinon bough.
Hasjelti wore a suit of velvet ornamented with silver buttons; he never
speaks except by signs. They advanced single file with a slow regular step
and when within 20 feet of the lodge the priest turned and faced Hasjelti
and repeated a short prayer, when the Etsethle sang.

SONG OF THE ETSETHLE.

From below (the earth) my corn comes
I walk with you.
From above water young (comes)
I walk with you.
From above vegetation (comes to the earth)
I walk with you.
From below the earth corn pollen comes
I walk with you.

These lines are repeated four times. The first line indicates that corn is
the chief subsistence; the second, that it is necessary to pray to
Hasjelti that the earth may be watered; the third, that the earth must be
embraced by the sun in order to have vegetation; the fourth, that pollen
is essential in all religious ceremonies. The Etsethle signify doubling
the essential things by which names they are known, corn, grain, etc.,
they are the mystic people who dwell in canyon