HARiiiN.n-ON] PLACE-NAMES 295 



drink. The Spaniards were afraid to come near enougii to be 

 within range of rocks and arrows. The stone wall [18:29] and 

 the ruined houses [18:24] probably date from the siege of Vargas, 

 but still older remains of walls and houses may be discoverable 

 on the mesa. 



Black Mesa has uiucli to do with the mytholog}' and religion of 

 the Tewa. A giant (Tewa tsaiijo) formerly lived with his wife 

 and daughter within the mesa. They entered through the cave 

 [18:21] and their oven was [18:30]. The giant was so large that 

 he reached San Ildefonso village in four steps. He made daily 

 trips thither in order to catch children, which ho took home and 

 he and his family ate. He used to drink from the Rio Grande. 

 See also [18:7]. At last the giant and his family were killed by 

 the War Gods (Tewa frnvWc 'little people'). The giant's heart 

 is a white stone situated on top of the mesa at [18:22], which 

 probably is mythic, as are so many other things both in the Tewa 

 world and in our own. Cf. [19:118]. 



It is said that Black Mesa is one of the four places which for- 

 merly belched forth fire and smoke. The others were fumawa- 

 Ji-ipcyiwe [19:116], ' Og.uhewe [20:8], and fpmapvjf [39:3], accord- 

 ing to San Ildefonso tradition. 



The altar [18:18] on top of the mesa is still • perfectly pre- 

 served, and remains of offerings are to be found by it, showing 

 that it is still used. It is said that dances were once performed 

 on certain occasions on top of the mesa. 



From the top of Black Mesa one may view the whole Tewa 

 country (see pi. 12, B). It is a strange place, full of historical and 

 mythical interest, and no visitor at San Ildefonso Pueblo should 

 fail to take a trip to the top of the mesa in company with an 

 Indian informant. 



Mr. A. Renahan, of Santa Fe, has pul)lished a book of verse 

 entitled " Songs of the Black Mesa". Whether the title refers 

 to [18:19] is not known to the writer. 

 [18:20] San Ildefonso T'y,nfjowaki 'slopeortalus of [18:19^ {ry,nfjo, 

 see [18:19]; tvaM, 'slope' 'talus'). This name refers to the talus 

 slopes at the foot of the clitis of [18:19]. The clili's themselves 

 are called T'xLnfjotoia {hJba 'cliff'). See [18:19]. 

 [18:21] San Ildefonso T'%Lnfjop'o, Ty,nfjop<Pi'' "hole of [18:19]' 

 'place of the hole of [18:19]' {Tun f jo, see [18:19]; fro 'hole'; 

 '/'»' locative . and adjective-forming postfix). Note that the p'o 

 ' hole ' is used and not any of the words meaning ' cavity ' or ' cave'. 

 Jr'o suggests j/ A'/ 'door' and appears to be used because the cave 

 is thought of as an opening leading into the hollow interior of 

 the mesa. 



