Page 148 - TheHopiIndians

140 MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND

the joyous season of the Kachinas begins. Dr. Fewkes
says: 3
The origin of this feast dates from the adventures
of a hero of the Ka-tci-nyu-muh, ' ' Ka-tci-wia people. ' '
The following legend of this people is preserved.
While the group'of gentes known by this name was on
its travels, they halted near the San Francisco Moun
tains and built houses. During this moon the hero
went out to hunt rabbits, and came to a region where
there was no snow. There he saw another Ka-tci-na
people dancing amidst beautiful gardens. He re
ceived melons from them, and carrying them home,
told a strange story of a people who inhabited a coun
try where there were flowering plants in midwinter.
The hero and a comrade were sent back, and they
stayed with these people, returning home, loaded with
fruit, during February. They had learned the songs
of those with whom they had lived, and taught them
in the Mb-va of their own people.
The Great Plumed Serpent who appears in the myth
ology of many American tribes is the chief actor in
the Palulukong ceremony, which is held in March. It
is a serpent drama in which the sun also has high
honor. The actors are masked, as the ceremony is
under the control of the Kachvnas, who are adept at
theatrical performances when represented by the fer
tile-minded Hopi.
» For an extended study of this ceremony see The Oraibi
Powamu Ceremony by H. B. Voth, Publication 61, Field Col
umbian Museum, Chicago, 1901, and Tusayan Katcinas by Dr.
J. Walter Fewkes, 15th Annual Report of the Bureau of
American Ethnology.