FEWKES] METHOD OF EXCAVATION 641 
Katci, and other prominent Kokop people occupy and cultivate the 
land about Sikyatki on the ground of inheritance from their ancestors 
who once inhabited the place. 
Two routes were taken to approach Sikyatki—one directly across the 
sandy plain from the entrance to Keam’s canyon, following for some 
distance the road to East Mesa; the other along the edge of the mesa, 
on the first terrace, to the cluster of houses at Coyote spring. The 
trail to the pueblos of East Mesa ascends the cliff just above Sikyatki 
spring, and joins that to Kanelba or Sheep spring; not far from 
Kiikiichomo, the twin mounds. 3y keeping along the first terrace a 
well traveled trail, with interesting views of the plain and the ruin, 
joins the old wagon road to Wala, the “gap” of East Mesa, at a higher 
level than the cluster of Tewan houses at Isba. In going and return- 
ing from their homes our Hopi workmen preferred the trail along the 
mesa, which we also often used; but the climb to the mesa top from 
the ruin is very steep and somewhat tiresome, 
We prosecuted our excavations at Sikyatki for a few days over three 
weeks, choosing as a site for our camp a small depression to the east of 
the ruin near a dwarf cedar at the point where the trail to Kanelba 
passes the ruin. The place was advantageously near the cemeteries, 
and not too far from water. For purposes other than cooking and 
drinking the Sikyatki spring was used, the remainder of the supply 
being brought from Kanelba by means of a burro. 
Temployed Indian workmen at the ruin, and found them, as a rule, 
efficient helpers. The zeal which they manifested at the beginning of 
the work did not flag, but it must be confessed that toward the close 
of the excavations it became necessary to incite their enthusiasm by 
prizes, and, to them, extraordinary offers of overalls and ealico. They 
at first objected to working in the cemeteries, regarding it as a desecra- 
tion of the dead, but several of their number overcame their scruples, 
even handling skulls and other parts of skeletons. The Snake chief, 
Kopeli, however, never worked with the others, desiring not to dig in 
the graves. Respecting his feelings, I allotted him the special task of 
excavating the rooms of the acropolis, which he performed with much 
care, showing great interest in the results. At the close of our daily 
work prayer-ofterings were placed in the trenches by the Indian work- 
men, as conciliatory sacrifices to Masauwath, the dread God of Death, to 
offset any malign influence which might result from our desecration of 
his domain. A superstitious feeling that this god was not congenial to 
the work which was going on, seemed always to haunt the minds of the 
laborers, and once or twice I was admonished by old men, visitors from 
Walpi, not to persist in my excavations. The excavators, at times, 
paused in their work and called my attention to strange voices echoing 
from the cliffs, whieh they ascribed, half in earnest, to Masauwih. 
The Indians faithfully delivered to me all objects which they found 
in their digging, with the exception of turquoises, many of which, [ 
17 Erp, Pro 19 
