Fig. 22. The White House. One of the houses of the yéi (from photograph by Hillers).
theon known as yéi (in compound words often pronounced ye or ge), which is translated "god" or "genius." What distinction exists between the yéi and other gods is not easy to determine definitely. The Zuñians have a class of gods called by the same name, or, more correctly, "yéyi," as Mr. Cushing pronounces it. Certain chiefs or important personages among these gods are called by names which begin with the syllables hastsé—as Hastséyalti73 (Talking God), Hastséhogan74 (House God). It is believed that this, if spelled etymologically, would appear as hastyé, but it is not so pronounced. Hast is a prefix denoting age, especially venerable age. We have it in the word hastín, which means a worthy or respected old man. Hastyé would mean a venerable yéi or god. The yéi seem to be deities of minor importance to those previously mentioned and to be more numerous. Thus, while there is but one Estsánatlehi, but one Nayénĕzgạni, and but one To‘badzĭstsíni there are several Hastséhogan and several Hastséyalti, who are chiefs of the yéi. The yéi are supposed to abide in certain localities, and in prayers in their honor the home is mentioned of the yéi to whom appeal is specially made. A place called Tsé‘natsi, or Red Horizontal Rock, somewhere north of the San Juan River, Tse‘gíhi, another place north of the San Juan, and the White House (fig. 22), in the Chelly Canyon, are important homes of the yéi.265 Each of the sacred mountains has its group of yéi. In
