_Naye{~COMBINING BREVE~}nezgani_ - Navaho

_From Copyright Photograph 1904 by E.S. Curtis_

Two of the most important characters in Navaho mythology are twin
miracle-performing sons of White-Shell Woman, Yolkai Estsan, chief
goddess. This plate pictures the leader of the two--the first conceived and
the first-born, whose father is the sun. His name means "Slayer of Alien
Gods," from _ana_, alien; _ye_, gods; _agani_, to kill. By him, with the
assistance of Tobadzischi{~COMBINING BREVE~}ni, his twin brother, were killed numerous bird,
animal, rock, and human monsters, typifying evils, who wantonly destroyed
human life.

When the Spirit People came upon this earth from below they made six
sacred mountains, four on the distant horizon at the cardinal points and
two in the centre, Choili and Tzilhnuhodiihli. On the eastern slope of
Choili, brought forth as the daughter of Earth and Sky, was born Yolkai
Estsan, White-Shell Woman. First Man took her to his home near
Tzilhnuhodihli, where she matured in twelve days into a beautiful woman
with supernatural powers. Later she lived in a home of her own at the foot
of this mountain. It was while there that she gave birth to twin boys who
became saviours of their people, slaying alien gods who were fast
depopulating the earth.

Yolkai Estsan would often lie on the eastern slope of the mountain as the
sun rose through the morning, and when the day grew warm would seek the
shade of jutting rocks from which trickled shining drops of water. Quite
unknown to herself she had conceived one day from the sunbeams and the
dripping water. When she became aware that she was to become a mother
Yolkai Estsan was made very happy, for she did not enjoy living alone.
Soon she found herself the proud possessor of twin boys. The first-born
and the stronger came to be known in his youth as Naye{~COMBINING BREVE~}nezgani, Slayer of
Alien Gods; the other was always known as Tobadzischi{~COMBINING BREVE~}ni, Born From Water.
Their prenatal life covered a period of only twelve days, and maturity was
attained in thirty-two days after passing through eight changes, one of
which came every four days.

At that time the earth was infested with great giants, foreign gods, who
were rapidly destroying the people. Of these, Yeitso, Big God, as large as
a mountain, was the only one in human form. The others were Man-eating
Bird, Rolling St