Page 237 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND 229

party began to speculate as to what they might be.
After a while it could be seen that a mounted party
was coming, perhaps Navaho on first thought, likely
Hopi on reflection. Soon they were decided to be a
number of Hopi mounted on burros and ponies, and
in a short time they were greeting the Americans with
the fervor of a long-lost brother, their faces wreathed
with smiles. These, then, were the tactiturn Indians
of the story-books.
Honani, "the Badger," citizen of Shumopavi, was
escorting his family on an outing of many miles after
berries. Berries, such as they are, do grow in the
desert, but they may be enjoyed only by those who
never tasted any other variety. Honani 's wife and
her three pretty daughters were astride ponies, while
the baby was securely fastened in his mother's blanket ;
the old grandfather and grandmother who bestrode
burros made up the rest of the party, which formed a
very picturesque group. The women asked for water,
and Honani spoke the magic word piba, tobacco, fol
lowed by the word, matchi. These words one very soon
finds are the indispensable preliminary to a "smoke
talk ' ' in Hopiland.
Honani's better half is no light weight. So thought
her pony which, without warning, proceeded to lie
down. Amidst the screaming and chattering, the
stout lady managed to extricate herself, being much
hampered by her prudence in tying her blanket to the
horn of the saddle. When all were quieted and the