James Mooney - Native Americans - 22 Books on History, Mythology, Culture & Linguistic Studies

F—Klĕganaái, The Moon

G—Yádĭlhkĭh Bĭnálzĕ, Sky Messengers

H—Nigostú̆n Bĭká Bĭnálzĕ, Earth Messengers

I, J—Nasté̆lh, Makers of Dreams and Visions

K—Hádĭlhkĭh, Lightning

Disc L

1—Nayé̆nĕzganĭ, Slayer of Alien Gods

2—Dutlí̆shĭ Skhĭn, Turquoise Boy

3—Yólkai Skhĭn, White-Shell Boy

4—Hádĭntĭn Skhĭn, Pollen Boy

Disc M

1—Tubadzĭschí̆nĭ, Born From Water

2—Yádĭlhkĭh Skhĭn, Sky Boy

3—Yólkai Skhĭn, White-Shell Boy

4—Hádĭntĭn Skhĭn, Pollen Boy

Disc N

1—Yólkai Nalí̆n, White-Shell Girl

2—Dutlí̆shĭ Nalí̆n, Turquoise Girl

3—Ĕnásho Dĭlú̆hklí̆shĕn, Black Alien Talker

4—Hádĭntĭn Nalí̆n, Pollen Girl

Disc O

1—Hádĭntĭn Nalí̆n, Pollen Girl

2—Nĭlchídĭlhkĭzn, The Wind

3—Yólkai Nalíí̆n, White-Shell Girl

4 —Yakósha Skhĭn, Frost Boy

P—Gáŭncho - Gods

Q—Gaŭnchĭné̆ - Gods

R—Gáŭn - Gods

S—Gaŭnchí - Gods

H—Another maltese cross, symbolizing four spirits of the air, who act as messengers of the gods. They are supposed to communicate with the medicine-men, bringing to them words of wisdom from the several gods as they sit and chant in ceremony, or when they are fasting. Their name, Nigostú̆n Bĭká Bĭnálzĕ, Earth Messengers, indicates that their powers extend to both the earth and the sky.

I and J symbolize spirits of the air who reveal to the medicine-men the wonders they claim to know in a priestly way. Such revelations are made to them in visions as they sit and drum and sing when endeavoring to discover some new cure for an affliction, or to initiate new customs that might be pleasing to the gods. The priests often take a medicine skin of this sort and go out into the mountains, where they fast and sing over it for hours at a time, awaiting the coming of the spirits.

K—It is supposed that any of the various gods have the power of calling on the lightning to carry messages from one to the other. Wherever shown in the symbolism of the Apache, lightning lines are drawn to indicate communication from one god to another.

Disc L 1—Nayé̆nĕzganĭ is the first son of Stĕnátlĭhăn, who was made to conceive by the sun's rays as she lay asleep on the eastern slope of a mountain. He is the War God and miracle performer, the culture hero who in parallel legends appears in many North American aboriginal cults. Great monsters in the form of giant antelopes, rolling stones, and beasts of hideous conception are supposed to have inhabited the earth for a time, destroying its people. These monsters typify only the evils of this life; in fact death itself is spoken of in many legends as one of the monsters, in such form engaging in a long discussion with the miracle performer to prove that he should not be destroyed; if he were, the earth would become overpopulated. With his bow and arrow and turquoise lance Nayé̆nĕzganĭ banished these curses from earth. He himself was invulnerable as he appeared before these monsters, for the reason that he always buried his veins near a tree before attacking them. After he had killed them all, he and his younger brother, Tubadzĭschí̆nĭ, quarrelled. The Bluebird revealed to the latter the spot where Nayé̆nĕzganĭ kept his veins buried, so he sought them out and shot arrows into them, thus killing him. Other myths relate how Nayé̆nĕzganĭ was later resurrected, and he is still prayed to as the chief War God.

Apache Girl

2—Dutlí̆shĭ Skhĭn was created within the blue clouds at the time they were made, and emerged from them. He took part in the creation, assisting Kútĕrastan and Stĕnátlĭhăn in finishing their work. At their direction he made a few people and many birds and animals.

3—To Yólkai Skhĭn is attributed the creation of all white things. He himself was brought into existence in the white cloud, and on emerging therefrom immediately began the work of making white rock and shells under the direction of Kútĕrastan and Stĕnátlĭhăn.

4—Hádĭntĭn Skhĭn is the God of Disease and Health. It is he who causes much sickness and he who can cure any disease, if he be so disposed. Especial care is taken by the Apache not to arouse his displeasure, and he is supplicated and propitiated whenever disease appears among them.

Disc M 1—Tubadzĭschí̆nĭ, the second son of Stĕnátlĭhăn, is the God of Water, because his mother conceived as she slept one afternoon under a ledge of rock from which drops of water trickled upon her. In the dance for rain all prayers and songs are addressed to him. It was he who created the ocean.

2—Yádĭlhkĭh Skhĭn is Chief of the Sky. In the origin story the Lightning was sent to encircle the earth to find how things appeared on all sides. On his return he brought back with him a large turquoise bowl containing three ill-formed persons, one of whom was Sky Boy. Later all three were put through a sweat-bath and their bodies perfected.

3—Yólkai Skhĭn, described above.

4—Hádĭntĭn Skhĭn, described above.

The Ford - Apache

Disc N 1—Yólkai Nalí̆n, one of the most venerated and greatly feared personages in the Apache mythology. She is the Goddess of Death, or rather of the after-life, for she controls all souls that pass on to the future world. The road to this afterworld is supposed to cross her shoulders and is symbolized by the Milky Way, a trail made by the departing spirits. The Apache will not utter the name of a deceased person, because they say the dead have gone on to Yólkai Nalí̆n and are her people. If they talked of them it might anger her, and when their death ensues she might refuse them admittance to the eternal paradise. This goddess is supposed to preside over the birth of children, hence supplications and offerings are made to her immediately before childbirth. She is invoked at other times to withhold her call, for it is believed that she can cause death. These prayers are addressed to Yólkai Nalí̆n through the medium of small white shells and white stone beads. The white beads are symbolic of purity, and through them Yólkai Nalí̆n is asked to keep the minds of the people free from evil thoughts or deeds.

2—Dutlí̆shĭ Nalí̆n, the Turquoise Girl, is the creator of all things green. She has to do with the crops in the fields, and the devout Apache prays to her every morning during the season of growth.

3—Ĕnásho Dĭlhklí̆shĕn is the God of Intellect. He controls the minds of the people, making their thoughts good or evil at will. It was he who first talked to the people on earth. When a child is born its parents often pray that Kútĕrastan will make it grow to be like Ĕnásho Dĭlhklí̆shĕn, to whom prayers are addressed for aid when one must talk to the people. In such case no offering of pollen is made unless the request be presented to an image representing this god, when pollen is sprinkled upon it.

4—Hádĭntĭn Nalí̆n is Chieftainess of Pollen, because she causes pollen to grow on the trees. The Indians know the function of pollen in plants and pray that their corn and other products of the fields, as well as the nuts and fruits that grow wild, may be fructified early in the season, to insure good harvests.

Disc O 1—Hádĭntĭn Nalí̆n, described above.

2—Nĭlchídĭlhkĭzn, Chief of the Winds. The Apache never complains of the wind, for should he become impatient about them and give vent to sacrilegious utterances he might anger the Wind God and thereby bring on destructive storms.