ts and generally make use of them in the treatment of disease, but
their treatment consists more of incantation than aught else. Even in
collecting the plants they invoke the deities, usually facing the cardinal
points in turn. In case the prescription calls for a combination of herbs
or other vegetal products, the number four is always strictly adhered to;
it might be a decoction made of four roots of one variety or of a single
root from each of four varieties of plants.

Every Apache medicine-man has a medicine skin, his _epu{~COMBINING BREVE~}n ezchi_,
inscribed with the symbolism of the tribal mythology. With his prayer
wands he rehearses the symbolic figures, praying to the mythical
characters who are regarded as most efficacious in the particular ailment
under treatment. In his own little _kowa_, or dwelling, with the painted
deerskin spread before him, on which are delineated the symbolic
representations of a score of gods comprising the Apache pantheon, a
medicine-man will sit and croon songs and pray all day and all night in
the hope of hearing the voices of celestial messengers.

Many of the prayers and songs of the Apache medicine-men are very
beautiful. The following is an example:

1 _Stena pehi{~COMBINING BREVE~}nda nzhoni, togonil adahe be{~COMBINING BREVE~}oishka__n__._

2 _Inate{~COMBINING BREVE~}sh nzhoni be{~COMBINING BREVE~}oishka__n__._

3 _Enude{~COMBINING BREVE~}tsos nzhoni be{~COMBINING BREVE~}oishka__n__._

4 _Inyatil nzhoni be{~COMBINING BREVE~}oishka__n__._

5 _Be{~COMBINING BREVE~}hnandahi inkehi togonil adahe be{~COMBINING BREVE~}oishka__n__._

6 _Indu{~COMBINING BREVE~}h binandahe be{~COMBINING BREVE~}oishka__n__._

7 _Beh nashalolezh nde; nasheyo shichi{~COMBINING TILDE~}sigo__n__ zho__n__dolezh._

8 _Nde shinkloho beh sanandahe be{~COMBINING BREVE~}oishka__n__._

9 _Beh sanashado be{~COMBINING BREVE~}oishka__n__._

10 _No osko__n__go adishni dahazhi behnashado ti nde ta nasheyo
go__n__zhodo._

11 _Shagocho paogo nasha._

12 _Akud nde sa nzhoni ye{~COMBINING BREVE~}sitchi ye{~COMBINING BREVE~}atido._

13 _Pidi yu{~COMBINING BREVE~}gga sa nzhoni ye{~COMBINING BREVE~}kissin shi{~COMBINING TILDE~}dil e{~COMBINING BREVE~}ndo._

14 _Shitu{~COMBINING BREVE~}h gozho__n__dolezh pogo hadishndi._

1 _Stenatliha__n__, you are good, I pray for a long life._

2 _I pray for your good looks._

3 _I pray for good breath._

4 _I pray for good speech._

5 _I pray for feet like yours to