Page 96 - TheHopiIndians

88 MESA FOLK OP HOPILAND

and pieces of cottonwood suffice the Hopi for the con
struction of flowers and complicated parts of the decor
ation of dolls and masks or other ceremonial belong
ings. Corn husks, dyed horsehair, woolen yarn, deer
skin, cotton cloth, twigs, basketry, and feathers are
worked in and the result, though crude, is effective.
But in the realm of mechanical apparatus the Hopi
is even ahead of the toy makers of the Schwartzwald.
For the Palulukong ceremony he arranges startling
effects, causing the Great Plumed Snake to emerge
through screens, out of jars, or from the ceiling of
the kiva, to the number of nine appearances, each
requiring artful devices. The head of the Snake is a
gourd furnished with eyes, having the mouth cut into
sharp teeth, a long tongue, a plume, and the whole
surface painted. The body is made up of wooden
hoops over which cords run and is covered with cloth.
Often two of these grotesque monsters are caused, by
the pulling of cords, to advance and withdraw through
flaps in the screen and to struggle against each other
with striking realism. Nothing in Hopiland is more
remarkable than this drama, as one may gather from
Dr. Fewkes' account of it given at another place.
Little of the Hopi's skill as a carver and decorator
goes to the furnishing or building of the house ; almost
all is taken up with ceremonial matters. Previous to
a few years ago chairs were unknown, as was any
other domestic joinery, except the Hopi head masks,
prayer-sticks and the thousand objects used in his