“Hi yo to hoo he yo yah hay yo,
He yah hi yo ye har ye he ho.”
This was a song of praise and thanksgiving to the Sun Father, and a supplication for the continuance of his favor. It was not the hoarse and discordant yelping of the Northern Indian, but arose and fell in rhythmical cadences and with an exactness of time that was surprising.
The spectators watched the dance with a curious feeling of interest and fascination.
CHAPTER XXI—THE RELIGIOUS RACE
Soon the sun dance was over and then came the religious race.
The track was a smooth strip of ground, stretching about four hundred yards from the bower in which the images had been placed.
The track was kept clear by old men, who were stationed at short distances up and down, armed with green branches to keep intruders out of the way.
At each end the contestants stood in a row, watching the track.
Each of the big community buildings was represented by sixteen runners, who were to take turns in the race.
The governor of the Pueblo made a short speech, and then, with startling suddenness two lithe figures darted out from the end nearer the bower, there was a wild shout of “hay-wah-oh,” and the race had begun.