114 SADDLE AND CAMP 



is a contraction of Hopitu. Moki or Moqui, 

 the name by which they are popularly known, 

 means in the Hopi dialect "dead," though the 

 name as applied to them as a tribe is probably 

 of foreign origin and a contraction of some 

 word alien to their language. It may have ori- 

 ginated in a contraction of the Spanish word 

 Mojiganza, meaning mummery, masquerade. 

 The explorer Coronado while at Zuni in the 

 year 1540 first heard of the Hopi Indians and 

 sent Pedro de Tobar and Fray Juan de Padilla 

 into Tusayan to investigate them. 



It was at this time that the Spaniards first 

 learned from the Hopis of the existence of the 

 Grand Canon of the Colorado, which plays so 

 considerable a part in their religious belief. 

 These and later Spaniards, visiting their vil- 

 lage, doubtless witnessed the ritualistic work of 

 some of the many clans, such as the kachina, 

 the snake and other public dances, and saw the 

 performers painted and masked enacting their 

 curious rites. It might well be that the Span- 

 iards characterized such performances as mum- 

 mery and masquerading. 



The Hopi is devoted to his religion and is 

 forever worshiping in the kiva, or working rit- 

 uals in the open village streets. Whether 

 through natural instincts, or because of his re- 



