Page 235 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND 227

and geological specimens, this not escaping the sharp
eyes of Saalako.
This sketch is given as a tribute to a remarkable
Hopi woman whose history is worthy of fuller pre
sentation.
Intiwa was another celebrity whose acquaintance
early ripened into a regard for his true worth. His
was a modest personality; in him one saw the living
presentment of the sages who guided the people before
America dawned upon history. A striking instance
that came to notice concerning him gives an interest
ing sidelight on Hopi customs.
One day Intiwa went down to his corn-field to see
how the crops were getting on. As he was reaching
under the drooping corn blades, feeling for the ripen
ing ears, a rattlesnake struck him on the hand. He
hurried home and applied all the remedies which
Hopi medical knowledge could suggest, but got no
relief. Some white visitors who happened to be near
were called in and did all they could for the man, and
finally, after much suffering, Intiwa recovered. Now
comes the curious sequel of the snake bite. The Snake
Fraternity decided that Intiwa, being specially fa
vored by the bite of the snake, must of necessity belong
to their order. Perhaps Intiwa was not impressed
with the alleged favor of the snake. Still he took the
initiation and became a full-fledged snake priest. This
is the first record of such happening in Tusayan.
Beside the honor thus thrust upon him, Intiwa was