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THE FOURTH WORLD: THE SACRED MOUNTAINS -=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=- In the Fourth World, First Man and First Woman formed the four main sacred mountains from the soil that First Man had gathered from the mountains in the Third World. When the Beings had assembled the things with which to dress the mountains, they traveled by rainbow to the east to plant the sacred Mountain of the East, Sis Naajini. They put down a blanket of white shell. On top of that they sprinkled some of the soil First Man had brought from the world below, and they placed more white shell. This was wrapped up and planted to the east. Yoolgai Ashkii (White Bead Boy, or Dawn Boy) was told to enter the Mountain of the East. Tsoodzil (the Mountain of the South) was planted the same way, except that it had a turquoise blanket, soil and pieces of turquoise. Dootl'izhii At'eed (Turquoise Girl) was told to go and live in the Mountain of the South. Dook'o'oosliid (the Mountain of the West) was made on an abalone blanke-t and out of soil and pieces of abalone. Diichili Ashkii (Abalone Shell Boy) entered the Mountain of the West. Dibe Nitsaa (the Mountain of the North) was made of an obsidian blanket, soil and pieces of obsidian. Baashzhinii At'eed (Obsidian Girl) entered the Mountain of the North. First Man and First Woman fastened the various mountains to the earth. Sis Naajini was fastened with a bolt of white lightning. They covered the mountain with a blanket of daylight and decorated it with black clouds and male rain. The Shash (Bear) was sent to guard the doorway of White Bead Boy. Tsoodzil was fastened to the earth with a stone knife. This Mountain of the South was covered with a blue cloud blanket. The mountain was decorated with dark mists and female rain. Tl'iish Tsoh (Big Snake) was sent to guard the doorway of Turquoise Girl. Dook'o'oosliid was fastened with a sunbeam. This mountain was covered with a yellow cloud. It was decorated with black clouds and male rain. Nilch'I Dilhil (Black Wind) was told to guard the doorway for Abalone Boy. Dibe Nitsaa was fastened to the earth with a rainbow. The mountain was covered with a blanket of darkness, and it was decorated with obsidian. Atsiniltl'ish (lightning) was sent to guard Obsidian Girl's doorway. -=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=- Fire and Sweat Bath | Ethelou Yazzie Home Page | REL 203 Syllabus |