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[pg 033] 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
From Copyright Photograph 1906 by E.S. Curtis
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.