March, 1905. The Traditions of the Hopi — yoTH. 289 



back of coyote, which she places into water, covered with cloth. She twists 

 and turns by hooks and then pulls off skin of coyote. She finds maiden in 

 vessel, with clothes on and hair in curls. When juniper comes, she bathes 

 maiden and then gives her corn to grind. Spider Woman tells maiden her 

 mother is homesick after her. She then calls for Katcinas, and tells them 

 maiden's story. Maiden is dressed up, and after Spider Woman has instructed 

 her as to prayer-offerings for Katcinas and how to get even with Yellow Corn- 

 Ear, she goes to village %vith Katcinas. Katcinas dance and sing. Parents 

 hear they have brought daughter, but at first refuse to believe news. They go 

 for her, but m^na remains with Katcinas until father brings offerings. 

 Maiden returns home, and next day she goes to grind com and sings about her 

 adventures. Yellow Corn-Ear maiden hears and visits her. She is treated 

 cordially, and they grind corn together as formerly. In evening they go to 

 spring for water. Yellow Corn-Ear maiden notices that friend uses peculiar 

 little vessel (given her by Spider Woman), and that water running into jug 

 shows different colors of rainbow. Friend drinks and says water tastes good. 

 She hands jug to Yellow Corn-Ear maiden, who drinks and turns into bull- 

 snake. Friend tells her to remain so, takes jug, and returns to village. Bull- 

 snake maiden later on goes to village and is Icilled by her parents, who do not 

 know her. Her soul goes to Skeleton House, and ever since sorcerers occasionally 

 leave their graves in form of bull-snakes. 



28. — Journey to the Skeleton House. 



Youth always sits on edge of mesa thinking about graveyard, and whether 

 thos^ buried there are living somewhere. He gets corn meal and prays to sun 

 for information. He prays four days and sun comes and gives him something 

 to eat, when he sleeps in evening. He tells parents, and that when sun is high 

 up they are to work on him that he may wake up. In evening he eats medicine. 

 He dies and goes to Skeleton house. He sees trail. On north side he descends. 

 He sees somebody whom he recognizes and who asks him to carry him four 

 steps, but he goes on. Woman carrying something asks him to take burden 

 from her, but he says he is in hurry. Man carrying mealing stone asks him to 

 take it. Then he runs fast and comes to man shaking bell very loudly. It is 

 Kwdnitaka, who explains what he has seen. He goes on and sees another 

 Kwanitaka ringing. They go on together and see fire in deep place where 

 wicked ones in Oraibi are burned and come out as smoke. They come to very 

 dark, deep place from which those who are thrown in never come out. Youth 

 returns to first Kwanitaka, who directs him to village. Here he finds Kwanitaka, 

 and he sees chiefs he had known in Oraibi living in blossoms. He sees all kinds 

 of grass, plants, and blossoms. Kwdnitaka tells him that those not wicked in 

 Orafbi will come there. He is to tell his parents what he has seen, and run fast as 

 they are waiting for him. He runs fast, and passing again all those he had seen 

 before, he arrives at house in Oraibi and enters body. He awakes. When they 

 have eaten, he tells them what he has seen. Young man wants to go back again. 

 He tells parents, and at night takes some of medicine. He sleeps, but when 

 mother brings him food he is dead. Father goes to his field, and Bdchro 

 speaks to him and says he is not to be homesick for his son. Both father and 

 mother are to come in four days. They go to field and Bachro comes again 

 and tells them not to be homesick, as he lives well. After that when father is 

 walking in field that comes there. 



