afford, and when poor
crops or long winters threaten distress he pawns it at a trader's, so that
many of the traders often have thousands of dollars' worth of silverwork
and shell beads on hand at one time. The system seems to be a very fair
one, and in time of stress is certainly a boon to the impecunious Navaho.

The little pottery made by this people is an undecorated ware for
utilitarian purposes only. For carrying water a gum-coated water bottle of
basketry is in general use. Few baskets are made, and these are of but a
single pattern--a flattish tray for use in ceremonies. Most of the baskets
used by the Navaho in their ceremonies, however, are purchased from
neighboring tribes, especially the Havasupai and the Paiute, who weave
them primarily for purposes of trade. Such baskets must be of a prescribed
pattern, with a break in the design at one side. When the basket is in use
this side is always placed toward the east.

Most Navaho ceremonies are conducted, at least primarily, for the purpose
of healing disease; and while designated medicine ceremonies, they are, in
fact, ritualistic prayers. There are so many of these ceremonies that no
student has yet determined their number, which reaches into scores, while
the component ritual prayers of some number hundreds. The principal
ceremonies are those that require nine days and nine nights in their
performance. Of the many now known the names of nine are here given: Kleje
Hatal, Night Chant;(4) Tzilhki{~COMBINING BREVE~}chi Hatal, Mountain Chant; Hozhoni Hatal,
Happiness Chant; Natoi Hatal, Shooting Chant; Toi Hatal, Water Chant;
Atsosi Hatal, Feather Chant; Yoi Hatal, Bead Chant; Hochonchi Hatal,
Evil-Spirit Chant; Mai Hatal, Coyote Chant. Each is based on a mythic
story, and each has four dry-paintings, or so-called altars. Besides these
nine days' ceremonies there are others whose performance requires four
days, and many simpler ones requiring only a single day, each with its own
dry-painting.

[Illustration: _Pike{~COMBINING BREVE~}hodiklad_ - Navaho]

_Pike{~COMBINING BREVE~}hodiklad_ - Navaho

_From Copyright Photograph 1907 by E.S. Curtis_

This, the first of the dry-paintings employed in the rites of the Mountain
Chant--a nine days' healing ceremony of the Navaho--as in the Night Chant,
is used on the fifth night, when the purpose of the performance is to
frighten the patient, and thus banish the