Page 236 - TheHopiIndians

228 MESA FOLK OP HOPILAXD

the Kachina chief of Walpi, and thus an important
man, the impresario and chief entertainer of his town,
honored by the rain-bringing serpent, blessed with a
large family, ample house and abundant food — gifts
no doubt of the good fairy Kachina.
Several years ago Intiwa took a journey to the
underworld across the deserts and down through the
sipapu, or earth-navel, finding at last that wondrous
land whence all people came out and "where they
finally must return, according to Hopi belief. Walpi
will suffer the loss of his great knowledge ; who knows
but that he will emerge, and, sitting with the zealous
kachinas, watch over the scene of his earthly triumphs ?
The first meeting with the Hopi and with the Ho-
nani family was one of the most pleasurable experi
ences of the journey from Winslow to the Middle
Mesa several years ago.
The party had toiled to the north for nearly three
days through the brilliantly painted deserts that lie
between the Little Colorado and the Hopi villages.
The grotesque black buttes whose contours had
changed so many times during the journey were left
behind to the south and the gray cretaceous mesas
began to narrow in on the dry washes, fringed with
sage-green desert plants that characterize the region
of the Hopi villages. Everyone felt that though many
miles of loose sand still intervened, this was the home
stretch to the goal. Far ahead on the plain several
black dots were sighted, and with lively interest the