LAND OF HOPI AND NAVAJO 115 



ligious teachings, he is peaceable, as his name 

 implies, honest, truthful to a degree, and in- 

 dustrious. Indeed a Hopi that steals is rare 

 and one that lies is ostracized. He never in- 

 vented an intoxicant and there are no oaths in 

 his language. 



But he is a pagan and he clings to his pagan- 

 ism with the utmost tenacity. For many years 

 missionaries of various denominations have 

 worked assiduously among the Hopis and the 

 Navajos, but, though the missionaries are 

 treated with consideration, never has one Hopi 

 been truly converted to Christianity, nor has the 

 firm foundation of his old pagan faith been 

 shaken. One missionary near Tuba stated that 

 he had spent the best efforts of ten years of his 

 life among the Hopis and Navajos, but he 

 could not honestly say that his work had been 

 productive of a single convert. 



To the unbiased observer it would seem that 

 the Hopis have no need of a new religion. 

 Christianity would in no way raise their moral 

 standard, and it is safe to say that even though 

 they were led to renounce their pagan beliefs 

 they would not accept a new faith, though like 

 other Indians they might outwardly profess to 

 do so; and robbed of faith in a religion that 

 holds them closely to a high standard of moral 



