342 ETllNOGEOGRAPHY OF THE TEV/A INDIANS Ikth. ann. 29 



used to bo a pool, they say, called Tslmajopokwi (pokwi 'pool' 

 <po 'watei'', hoi unexplained). The earth or mud of this pool 

 has healing properties; see below. Doctor Hewett furnishes the 

 following information ai)out Chinia\'o: 



Chiraayo was originally an Indian pueblo, a pueblo of blanket weavers. 

 There is a famous old shrine at the place. It was originally an Indian shrine. 

 After the pueblo became Mexicanized a church was built by the shrine and 

 pilgrimages were made to the shrine from all over the Southwest. The church 

 built at the shrine is in the custodianship of the people of purest Indian descent. 

 In a grotto is the curative earth. Boards in the floor are taken up in order 

 to get at the earth. People used to carry the earth away with them. Articles 

 of silver, brass, and glass were de]>osited at the place. The earth was con- 

 secrated. 



The Mexican inhabitants of Chimaj'o are famous for the beau- 

 tiful blankets which they weave. The blankets are of a thin 

 texture and have attractive designs in colors. Hundreds of dol- 

 lars' worth of these blankets are purchased from the makers every 

 year. "Chimayo blankets made l>y Chimayo Indians of northern 

 New Mexico, who are now practicalh' extinct, are thought to be 

 the connecting link between Na\ajo and Saltillo weaving." ' It 

 is probable that the Chimayo blankets are a development of 

 ancient Tewa weaving. No blankets are now woven by the Tewa 

 Indians, this art probably having been lost since the Mexicaniza- 

 tion of the Tewa country. It is said that Chimayo blankets are 

 woven also by Mexicans living at Santuario |22:i!0] and at other 

 places in the vicinity of Chimayo. 



Chimayo lies in a deep canyon or canada. Bandelier- mentions 

 the "gorges of Chimaj'o." He probably refers to a number of 

 gorges, as those of [22:17], [22:22], and [22:2(>]. It is .said 

 that a large part of the settlement is on the north side of the creek; 

 the church and some houses are, however, on the south side. 

 There is very little published information about Chimayo. Ban- 

 delier merely mentions the name, and no information is given in 

 Hewett's publications. Tsimajo gave the creek [22:17] its old 

 Tewa name. It gives the name also to a mountain or hill [22:19]. 

 According to information obtained by an investigator at Santa 

 Clara Pueblo, Chimayo was one of the places at which lire and 

 smoke were belched forth in ancient times. 

 [22:19] Tsimajopvyf 'mountain of the flaking stone of superior qual- 

 it}'', referring to [22:18] (7siw,a;V;, see [22:18]; pijjf 'mountain'). 

 This name is given to a mountain or hill north of Chimayo 

 [22:18]; it was seen and located from the heights between Nainb6 

 and Cundayo [25 :7]. 



1 Amcr. Mitacitm Journal, xil, no. 1, p. 33, Jan., 191'J. 

 « Final Report, pt. II, p. 74, 1892. 



