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MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND 159

whence the Flutes were going and what they desired.
Then the Flute chief said :
' ' We are of your blood, Hopi. Our hearts are good
and our speech straight. We carry on our backs the
tabernacle of the Flute Altar. We can cause rain to
fall." Four times they challenged the Flute people
as they stood before the line of meal and four times
this reply was given. Then the Walpians erased the
meal barrier and the Flutes passed into the pueblo, set
up their altar, sang the cloud-compelling songs and
brought the welcome rain. Then the Bear and Snake
chiefs said, "Surely vour chief shall be one of our
chiefs."
It will be seen that this legend, collected by Dr. J.
Walter Fewkes, is enacted in the ceremony just de
scribed. And the Flute priests also think they are
more successful rain makers than the Snake-Antelope
priests, and do not hesitate to so declare.*
In the September moon the Hopi women of five of
the pueblos hold a celebration of their own, which is
not the least interesting ceremony in the calendar.
It is called the Lalakonti, and like the other cere
monies of this part of the year extends over nine days.
Sometimes it is called the Basket Dance — from the
great use made of the sacred plaques in the ceremony
— a quite appropriate use, since these baskets are pe
culiarly the product of women's taste and skill. The
details of the kiva rites, such as paho making, the con
s The Walpi Flute Observance, Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, Jour.
Am. Folk-Lore, Vol. 7, Oet-Dec., 1894.