Page 181 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OP HOPILAND 173
these members of the deer tribe were plentiful. One
of the most beautiful flowers of the Southwest, the
scarlet gilia, is thought to be especially liked by the
antelope, and tradition says that for this reason the
hunter formerly ground up the flowers with sacred
meal and made offerings with it for success in hunting
that graceful animal. Remains of extensive stake
fences and corrals built by the Navaho for driving
the antelope are to be seen south of the Hopi Reserva
tion. One of these is called the "Chindi corral," be
cause the Xavaho say that iu the last great hunt those
who ate of the antelope captured were made sick and
many died. Hence no Xavaho will camp in this be
witched corral or use a piece of the wood for camp
fires, no matter how great the necessity.
The Hopi sometimes hunted the antelope by driving,
but usually relied on surprise, fleetness of foot, the
bow and arrow, and the boomerang. No doubt the
deer and great elk were ceremonially hunted in the
old days of tradition. There is little reason to believe
that the Hopi vegetarians have for centuries gained
more than a flavor of animal food to vary their diet.
Formerly the antelope must have been more impor
tant, though always difficult to capture. Now, the
Hopi perforce hunt rabbits, as the tabo or cottontail
and the smci or jackrabbit alone of all the game ani
mals survive in this region.
If one chances to see a hunting party set out or to
encounter them in active chase he will have a novel