282 COLUMBIAN HISTORICAL EXPOSITION AT MADRID. 



The Ho-pi Indians are small of statue, peaceable, industrious, and 

 speak a native dialect different from the language of the other towns of 

 New Mexico and Arizona. 



Some American ethnologists assert that in language they are related 

 to the Shoshones ; but their true affinities still remain undecided. They 

 do not permit polygamy, and do not buy their wives, whom they treat 

 with respect. The houses and domestic implements belong to the 

 women, who are skillful potters and basket makers, and also take part 

 in the labors of the field. The men weave blankets, and are industrious, 

 intelligent, and very religious. All belong to some priesthood, and 

 participate in complicated ceremonies. The religion consists of an 

 elaborate system of ceremonies and practices, one important rite cor 

 responding to each month. These practices last nine days, during 

 which secret ceremonies are performed in underground rooms called 

 &quot;kibvas.&quot; These rites usually terminate in a public sacred dance, none 

 except the initiated being permitted to be present at the other cere 

 monies. 



In spite of the heroic efforts of zealous missionaries, there are no 

 Christians among these Indians, although the influence of Christianity 

 is noticeable in some of their ceremonies. 



The Ho-pi have much love for their antiquity, and preserve with 

 great care the traditions of the ancients. They dramatize some of 

 these traditions in their sacred dances, as do also the priests in their 

 secret ceremonies. 



The Ho-pi possess a rich Pantheon of gods and heroes, but without 

 having any god superior to all the others. These divinities belong to 

 different orders, the most important being the rain clouds, the sun, 

 the star, the surface of the earth, and the Germ god. The great feath 

 ered serpent is an important personage. 



1. Fragment of a bell which belonged to one of the mission churches of Tusayan. 



This fragment was found and preserved by the Indians of Wal-pi. The mis 

 sion was destroyed toward the year 1700, and that of A-wa-to-bi was burnt by 

 the other towns because it was &quot;powako,&quot; or sorcerer (Christian). This 

 single fragment of the bell was found among the rubbish on the spot which 

 had been occupied by the church, and bears marks of the action of fire. It is 

 one of the few remains still preserved of the ancient missions, which were 

 completely destroyed, although beams of the roofs of some of them are found 

 in modern buildings. The photograph behind the bell shows the present condi 

 tion of the ancient mission of the town, and was taken from the entrance, 

 looking toward the altar. 



2. Imitation of a loom, showing the mode of weaving, made for the purpose of 



exhibiting the various pieces used. The blankets were woven by the men, not 

 by the women. Blankets of the Navajoes are suspended along the walls of the 

 room. 



3. Collection of ancient awls, drills, and needles, some of which were doubtless 



used in weaving. They come from the excavations of the rooms of the ruins 

 of A-wa-to-bi, destroyed A. D. 1700. 



4 Basket for carrying food or water. Both the nomad and the sedentary Indians 

 use these baskets ; they are made by the Kohonino, who live near the Grand 

 Canyon, in the northwestern part of Arizona. 



