Page 211 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND 203

Another tradition he related was about the ancient
people. Looking toward the Southwest he said, "Do
you see two small peaks close together on the horizon f
There is one of the houses of the sun, where he rests
when he is in the west. Our people once lived in a
rock town on the peak to the left. The town was
called ' Chub i o chala ki, ' ' The house of the place of
the Antelopes, ' where also there are pine trees, shrubs
and flowers, grass and much water. Perhaps it was
here, who knows?" said he, "that the people were al
most overwhelmed by a great flood which kept rising
over the plains and over the hills till it reached nearly
the tops of the mountains where the ancestors were
waiting in fear. When the boy and girl were thrown
into the flood, then came safety, for the wrath of the
earth-god was appeased and the waters went down.
But the youth and maiden heroes were turned into
two great stone pillars, which bear their names to this
day." (See Myths.)
This striking legend of some almost forgotten deluge
related by Masi is not found alone among the Hopi,
but is widespread among the Pueblos of the Southwest.
Surely, there is no danger now of a flood in this dry
region, but in former times as the vast levels and the
beds of ancient lakes show, there must have been
plenty of water. Masi's traditions do not go into
geological periods, however.
Another time, while in reminiscent mood, Masi
divulged that "very, very when" ago the Peaceful