Page 253 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OP HOPILAND 245

how, was a surprise to his friends. His choice of an
albino for a mate clears him to some extent, as no
doubt he believes her to be as near an approach to a
white woman as a Hopi may hope to reach. However,
his friends wish him well and feel like saying, "Long
live Wupa, 'great' by name and truly great in quip,
gibe, and gest by nature. ' '
A visit to the East Mesa cannot be regarded as com
plete without an interview with Toby. Usually no
one leaves this portion of Tusayan without seeing him.
His name, which means "the fly," exactly fits Toby,
who has all the pertinacity of that well-known insect.
Several years ago, however, the writer failed to meet
Toby and remained in complete ignorance of his great
possibilities, except by hearsay, until the next season.
Then when the party wound its way up to the first
bench of the mesa under the dizzy cliffs and camped
on a level spot near a peach tree on land which the
Tewa have held for two centuries, Toby was there as
a reception committee.
His "how do" was rather startling and unexpected.
After the routine of handshaking, Toby remarked,
"This my Ian'," and pointing to the antique tree
long past fruit-bearing, "This my peach tlee. " Proud
of his possessions he squatted on the ground and drew
a plan of his Ian' and inquired as he pointed out the
locations of his crops, "Have you seen my con [corn] t
Have you seen my beanzest" Suddenly an idea
struck him. He approached the leader of the party