74 THE CLIMATIC FACTOR AS ILLUSTRATED IN ARID AMERICA. 



the Hohokam possessed a degree of mobility vastly in excess of that of any other known 

 people of similar agi-iciiltural habits. We must also believe that whereas, during the past 

 200 years, the modern Zunis, who are often quoted in this connection, have abandoned 

 two villages, one of which is now being reoccupied, the Hohokam abandoned their villages 

 by the hundred without assignable cause. We must further assume that all the apparent 

 indications of a formerly dense population are utterly misleading. The Hohokam lived 

 here to-day and there to-morrow. Somehow they knew when the rains would be propitious : 

 therefore they abandoned the sites where water is always abundant, and went far out into 

 the wastes to sites which have water only in the most favorable years and where agriculture 

 is now remunerative only about one year in five. 



If we accept the alternative theory, no assumptions are required. The Hohokam acted 

 like other races; they Uved where there was an opportunity to obtain food by agriculture. 

 Wlien the rainfall diminished they starved, or else were driven out by enemies who them- 

 selves were set in motion by hunger. In the early times, when rainfall was abundant, they 

 dwelt in peace and comfort; when evil days cut down the supply of water and of food, 

 war and misery sprang up. The dwellers in the villages of less favorable location were 

 driven into hunger and despair, and took to plundering, robbing, and raiding. Thus of 

 necessity the art of defense was greatly stimulated among those who dwelt in the more 

 desirable regions ; and we find the best forts not in the regions at the lower ends of the rivers, 

 but far upstream, where the dwindling Hohokam made their final stand. We might go 

 on to show in a score of ways how one theory demands large assumptions, while the other 

 demands none whatever. The weight of probabihty seems to lie on the side of changes 

 in climate. We shall go on to see how and when these changes may have occurred. 



