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THE FOURTH WORLD: FIRE AND SWEAT BATH -=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=- The Holy People decided they wanted to make fire and were uncertain about the fire-making procedure. After discussing the matter, they discovered that one of the people had carried flint from the Third World. With it they made the first fire, using the flint on four kinds of wood which were gathered from the four directions. The kinds of wood were fir, pinon, spruce and juniper. The fire made such a noise that it frightened the people. They put another piece of wood on the fire to quiet it, but that did not solve the problem. Finally, one of the people took a branch from another tree and brought it in to calm the fire. The fire quieted down immediately. At that time, the Honeeshjish (first poker) was discovered, and the people made a prayer and song for the poker. The men decided that they wanted to build a sweat bath. The first sweat bath was larger than a hogan. All of the men crowded into the sweat bath, but it would not get warm. Then Lightning came and suggested that they send someone over to a distant place where there was a Ch'idi (blanket). A person was sent to bring back the blanket. Owl Man and Owl Woman also had blankets. All of the blankets were used to cover the doorway of the sweat bath, and they helped to get the bath warm. There, in the Tacheeh (first sweat bath), First Man sang some ceremonial chants and songs. The chants and songs used became sweat bath chants, songs and prayers. -=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=- |