Page 55 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND 47

"Paying off'' is surrounded with attractions for all
sorts and conditions of men. The Hopi seemed like
a lot of children anticipating a holiday, as they sat in
a circle around Dr. Fewkes, who was paymaster. This
was their first experience, perhaps, with Government
"red tape,'' of whose intricacies they must have had
but the faintest idea. There are times when blissful
ignorance is to be envied.
The " sub-vouchers " were filled out with the time
of service and the amount to be paid, and as the doc
tor's clerk called out the names, the boys came for
ward to sign. An Indian sign his name ! Curiously
enough, every Hopi from the least to the greatest can
sign his name, and he does not have to resort to the
' ' X-mark ' ' of our boasted civilization.
Perhaps it would be better to say ' ' draws his name, ' '
for when the first Indian grasped the pen in the most
unfamiliar way imaginable, he drew the picture of a
rabbit, the next drew a tobacco plant, the third a liz
ard, and so on, until the strangest collection of sig
natures that ever graced a Government voucher-book
was completed.
It must be explained that each Hopi has an every
day name which his fond relatives devised for him
during infancy, and a clan name, which shows his
blood relationship or family. Nowhere, even in these
days of ancestor hunting, is more importance given to
family than in Hopiland. If you ask. "Who is this
man*" the answer may be. for instance, "Kopeli, "