278 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. VIII. 



are painted with specular iron and they have beads around their necks. 

 Young man sits down near fireplace. All are silent. Chief fills large pipe 

 with tobacco and smokes four times. He hands pipe to young man and tells 

 him to smoke and swallow smoke. Spider woman tells him to put her behind 

 him. When he swallows smoke she draws it from him and he does not get 

 dizzy. Men do not see trick, and say he is certainly some one. He gives them 

 nakwakwosis and baho, which make them happy. Chief tells young man to 

 turn away, and then people dress up and turn into snakes. Spider Woman 

 tells him not to be afraid. Chief, who has not turned, tells him to select and 

 take snake. Prettiest maiden has become large snake, which is very angry. 

 Snake Woman gives young man medicine, some of which he chews and spurts 

 on fierce snake. It becomes docile, and he grabs snake and strokes it four 

 times. Chief tells him to look away again, and snakes assume human form 

 again. They now talk to young man, and they consider him initiated. M^na 

 whom he captured lays food before him. Chief asks why he came, and he 

 speaks of running water and that he wants beads from Hurtling Wuhti. 

 Young man makes excuse and takes Spider Woman home. On return to kiva 

 chief instructs him about Snake cult. Next morning he goes to Spider Woman, 

 who makes rainbow road to bluflf, where Huruing Wuhti lives. They find old 

 hag, but many beads, shells, etc., on walls. At sundown she becomes pretty 

 maiden and invites young man to sleep with her. In morning he finds old hag, 

 who in evening again changes to maiden, and remains so. He remains four 

 days and nights with Huruing Wuhti, who is deity of hard substances. She 

 gives him beads and charges him not to open sack as he goes home. If he does 

 they will be gone ; if not they will increase. Young man returns to Snake kiva, 

 where he stays four days and nights. Chief tells him to take mana who will 

 bear him children, and they Avill hold ceremony. They start and go to Spider 

 Woman's house. He tells young man not to touch his wife on way home, or 

 she and beads will disappear. On way they sleep separately and beads increase. 

 When nearly one more day's travel, sack has become full and man opens it, 

 while wife remonstrates. During night he takes out finest beads and shells 

 and puts them around his neck. In morning all beads but those given him by 

 Huruing Wuhti have disappeared. They come to village, and soon woman 

 bears many Snake children. They play with Hopi children, but sometimes 

 bite them. Hopi are angry. Husband takes children back to wife's home. 

 Snake man and wife travel south-eastward and come to Walpi. Chief admits 

 them to village, they to assist people in ceremonies. Woman bears human 

 children and their descendants are Snake clan. Snake chief sends nephew to 

 hunt snakes, and first ceremony is celebrated. 



7. — The Snake Myth. 



Old men of Pihkash and Kokop clans wonder where Colorado River flows. 

 They build box, put provisions and four bdhos with young man into box, 

 and send it floating down river. When box will go no further young man gets 

 out. He sees water everywhere. In midst is house. Huruing Wuhti comes 

 out and calls him four times. He goes to her house on road made by corn-meal 

 ball she rolls on water. In evening Huruing Wuhti sends him into side room. 

 Sun comes sitting on disk attached to pole. He is dressed like Katcina. He 

 assorts bdhos offered him on course around earth and throws those of bad 

 people away. He takes bath and eats food. He then goes into house under 



