132 THE WA-WAC-KA-ICI-NA : 



certain peoples preserve the cult of individual Ra-tci-nds 

 better than others. In following the lead of those who best 

 know any particular Kd-tci-nd, no element of hostility 

 should play any part. It might readily be concluded that 

 as far as the gods are concerned, the Indian is prepared 

 to be taught by any one who has valuable knowledge of the 

 Kd-tci-nds. I do not affirm that the Hopi so regard this 

 question or that this is their reason for the introduction of 

 strange Ed-tci-nds, but I so interpret the few remarks 

 which I have heard on this point. 



Td-cdb-kd-ici-nd ordinarily wears a helmet with a band 

 across his face not unlike that of Hu'-hii-wuh. On the 

 dolls of Td-cdh-kd-tci-nd which I have, some specimens 

 have the same marks painted in different colors but in sev- 

 eral they are absent altogether. I shall discuss this ques- 

 tion more at length in my article on Hopi ligurines (dolls). 



In interpretations of the meaning of Hopi ceremonies, 

 personages and paraphernalia which appear in the same, 

 a strict line of demarcation must be drawn between pos- 

 sible and real explanations. The nature of the subject is 

 such as to invite one to speculation. The explanation 

 built on the testimony of priests is good as far as it goes 

 but even this is not always final. Human nature is falli- 

 ble and while a priest may report the exi)lanation which he 

 has heard from his antecedent in office, the element of in- 

 vention and mistake in transmission from generation to 

 generation must always be taken into account in a final es- 

 timation of the subject. Although the explanations ad- 

 vanced by the priest to explain ceremonies and personages 

 which occur in such is capable of scientific treatment, 

 they cannot be regarded as exact knowledge or science, 

 but must be used for what they are worth. That the priests 

 believe that the crooks about the altar and the fetiches of 



