Page 255 - TheHopiIndians

MESA POLK OF HOPILAND 247

that after Toby's watchful care at the camp all the
baking powder and matches were missing. Few Hopi
are proof against these articles, especially before a
feast, and Toby is evidently no exception. He fought
shy of camp after that, no doubt fearing a "rounding
up." Perhaps, however, Toby appropriated the
matches and baking powder as rent for his "Ian'."
Toby is father of a large family. When asked to
give a census, he counted on his fingers, "Boy, girl;
boy, girl ; boy, ' ' then with great enthusiasm, ' ' Babee ! ' '
Toby's command of English is due to the fact that he
was the prize pupil of a teacher at the Ream's Canyon
School some years ago. He delights to show how he
can spell. If no one should ask him to exhibit this
accomplishment, he usually brings up the subject by
asking, for instance, "How you spell box!" pro
nounced "boxsh." If ignorance is professed, Toby
spells b-o-x, and follows with dog, cat, man, and other
words of one syllable, and proudly finishes by writing
his own name in the sand.
Toby thus furnishes great amusement to sojourners
at Walpi and also leaves the suspicion in the minds
of most that he is a trifle "light in the upper story."
Another character is "Tom Sawyer," a Paiute In
dian who lives with the Peaceful People at the East
Mesa. As handsome as a Japanese grotesque mask
and almost as taciturn, his gravity seems to have tele
scoped his squat figure and multiplied the wrinkles
in his face, half hidden by his lank, grizzled hair.