Page 241 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND 233
deadly warfare on the obnoxious prairie dogs whose
fate is to be eaten if caught.
Chaiwaina is disposed to poke fun at the scientific
men who come to Tusayan to study the ways of the
Hopi. He has a remarkable laugh, and his mimicry
of the Snake Dance is one of the most amusing things
to be seen in Hopiland. His object is to ridicule all
parties by making himself ridiculous. It is evident
that Chakwaina has not the accustomed contentment of
the Hopi. Having denied the first article of faith in
the kachinas and having received nothing higher in
return, he stands in the unhappy position of all un
believers of whatever race or time.
A portrait gallery of the celebrities of Tusayan
would not be complete without Mungwe, or, as his
name is translated, "El Capitan," "Cap" for short;
but his name is properly Mongwe, ' ' the owL " " Cap ' '
is a Tewa whose ancestors were invited long ago to
come from the Rio Grande and cast their lot with
the Hopi on the Walpi Mesa. Here their descendants
still dwell in the village of Hano, preserving the
language and customs transplanted from the "Great
River of the North. " " Cap ' ' is one of the most ener
getic and capable Indians in all Hopiland. Wiry in
figure, alert of movement, loquacious, quick of com
prehension, trustworthy and experienced, he is quite
in advance of the large majority of his contempor
aries. Long ago he abandoned the inconvenient mesa :
his farm-house with its red roof can be seen among