Page 222 - TheHopiIndians

214 MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND

by the presence of about thirty Indian laborers, most
ly Walpi "boys." Far above on the rocky mesas
could be seen three Hopi towns which bear names
difficult of pronunciation, "The place of peaches"
being most picturesque. To the West were innum
erable barren hillocks, furrowed and gullied, rising
toward the warm sandstone cliffs bearing the pueblos
at the top. Along the wash which from time im
memorial had been carving out this wonderfully
sculptured valley were the bean and melon patches
of the Indians, and on the higher ground dark green
peach orchards. Out of the mouth of the valley there
stretched the wide plain, merging into the many-
hued desert.
On this particular Sunday the exploring party felt
out of sorts. The Indian workmen who had been
digging in the ruins of an ancient pueblo near by
had been served notice by the chief of the neighboring
village to quit and a warning sent to our party in this
wise, ' ' Go away, you are bad ; you bring the wind and
keep away the rains." This is a grave charge in a
country where winds disperse the thunder clouds with
their precious burden before they reach the corn fields.
No invention could devise a more damaging statement.
The Walpi, who are freer from superstition than most
of the Hopi, felt less desire to earn the coveted silver
after this announcement. Finally it was decided to
ask Nashihiptuwa to a council, talk it over with him
and persuade him to withdraw his ultimatum. A