Page 232 - TheHopiIndians

224 MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND

points in their rites and ceremonies. In fact, it seems
that no observance in Walpi can get along without his
aid, and even the farther towns often call upon him to
assist them in delicate points involved in the conduct
of their religious celebrations.
It is time we should have a pen picture of him.
Short of stature, thick, gray hair hanging to his
shoulders around a not unpleasant, mobile face.
Nervous of movement, cordial, but occupied with
pressing business, going somewhere, has scarcely time
more than to ask a few curious questions, he seems to
have the burden of Atlas on his shoulders. He re
sembles a promoter or a ward politician and he covers
more ground in a day than Wiki could in a week.
If Supela seems head and front of everything re
ligious in the summer, in the winter he plays a more
prominent part in the Soyaluna, which is held at the
last of December. Of this wonderful sun ceremony
he is chief, and is as illustrious a personage to the Hopi
as Santa Glaus is to the fair-skinned children. At
this time Supela is in his element and proud of him
self to the last degree, for does he not regulate the
rites that are to bring back the sun from his far
winter wanderings?
Wiki was a man of action, coming forward to add
power and dignity to that most astounding ceremony
ever originated by human brain, the Snake Dance;
Supela is a man of craft, a worker by formulas and
incantations, but first and last a believer in getting