West timber, iŋiŋáȼe naaí.
North timber, náqokosȼe naaí.
Doorway timbers (two), tcíŋĕçinȼe naaí.
The appearance of the frame as seen from below is shown in figure 231.
Fig. 231—Frame of a hogán, seen from below
These names afford a good illustration of the involved nomenclature which characterizes Indian languages. Naaí means a long, straight object, like a piece of timber. The first word in each of the terms above is the name of the cardinal point, the place it occupies (south, west, and north), with the suffix ȼe, meaning “here” or “brought here.” The same words are used with the suffix dje, instead of ȼe, as caȼaádje naaí for the north timber, dje meaning “there” or “set there.” The west timber is also specially designated as bigídje nabkád, “brought together into it,” an allusion to its functions as the main support of the frame, as the two other timbers rest within its spreading fork. The two doorway timbers are also designated as north timber and south timber, according to the position each occupies, and they are sometimes called tcíŋĕçin bĭnĭnĭ´li, “those in place at the doorway passage.” A full nomenclature of hogán construction will be found in another section.
When the tsáȼi, or frame of five timbers, is completed the sides are filled with smaller timbers and limbs of piñon and cedar, the butt ends being set together as closely as possible on the ground and from 6 to 12 inches outside of the excavated area previously described. The timbers and branches are laid on as flat as possible, with the upper ends leaning on the apex or on each other. The intervening ledge thus formed in the interior is the bench previously mentioned, and aside from its convenience it adds materially to the strength of the structure.