Page 19 - TheHopiIndians

PREFACE

Whoever visits tlus Hopi fails perforce under the
magic influence of their life and personality. If any
one entertains the belief that "a good Indian is a dead
Indian," let him travel to the heart of the Southwest
and dispel his illusions in the presence of the sturdy,
self-supporting, self-respecting citizens of the pueblos.
Many sojourns in a region whose fascinations are sec
ond to no other, experiences that were happy and as
sociations with a people who interest all coming in
contact with them combined to indite the following
pages. If the writer may seem biased in favor of the
"Quaker Indians," as Lummis calls them, be it known
that he is moved by affection not less than by respect
for the Hopi and moreover believes that his commenda
tions are worthily bestowed.
The recording of these sidelights on the Hopi far
from being an irksome task has been a pleasure which
it is hoped may be passed on to the reader, who may
here receive an impression of a tribe of Indians living
at the threshold of modern civilizing influences and
still retaining in great measure the life of the ancient
home-bu&dfrs of the un watered land-s.
To Mr. F. W. Hodae of the Bureau of American