Question

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The following excerpt is from a book about the rituals of the Navajos that have been practiced for thousands of years: During my visit to the Southwest, in the summer of 1885, it was my good [luck] to arrive at the Navajo Reservation a few days before . . . a Navajo healing ceremonial. Learning of the preparation for this, I decided to remain and observe the ceremony, which was to continue nine days and nights. The [event] drew to the place some 1,200 Navajos. The scene of the [crowd] was a [wide] plateau near . . . Keam's Canyon, Arizona. —Ceremonial of Hasjelti Dailjis and Mythical Sand Painting of the Navajo Indians by James Stevenson Which of the following best describes this source? It is a secondary source because the writer is observing the ceremonies, not participating in them. It is a primary source because the writer is an eyewitness to the ceremonies. It is a primary source because the writer is analyzing the ceremonies, which are a secondary source. It is a secondary source because it does not include photographs from that time period.

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. It is a secondary source because it does not inclue photographs from that time period.

Answer 2

The correct answer is: It is a secondary source because the writer is observing the ceremonies.

The author is not a direct participant in the ceremonies, so this account is likely an essay on the ceremony that also includes accounts from past ceremonies that the author was not present for.

While eyewitness accounts are usually primary sources, this seems to skew more to a secondary source due to the nature of the author's work and interest and the level of participation in the event.