fEWKES] RDIN 1 OF THE HOMOLOBI GROUP 25 



of the chiefs in Soyalufia. 'I'lic Sun priest, Kwatcalvwa, takes a 

 prominent part in the screen drama of Paliiliikoiiti. The Kwakwantu, 

 Eajjle-aj;ave people, are distinctly southern, cominj; from the region in 

 Arizona where the great cactus or agave grows, and an examination 

 of details of the ceremonies mentioned shows an instructive likeness 

 to Mexican rituals. In both Soyalufia" and Paliiliikonti the effigies of 

 the Plumed Snake play imixirtant parts, and this conception is dis- 

 tinctly a Mexican one, recalling C^uetzalcoatl. It is for those cere- 

 monials in wliicli there is the closest likeness to Nahuatl rites that 

 southern origin is claimed hy the chiefs and other participators. 



Ruin 1 



As has been stated, the nearest of the Ilomolohi ruins to Winslow — 

 the one which was chosen for extensive excavations — is about 3 miles 

 distant on the right bank of the i-iver, and about the same distance 

 from where the river is bridged l)y the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. 

 At that point there are several small knolls separated by level spaces 

 which might once have been cultivated fields. Between the site of the 

 ruin and the river bank there is a small grove of cottonwood trees, 

 the bases of which are evidentlj- at times flooded l>y the overflow of 

 the stream. 



The river takes a general northwest course from the railroad cross- 

 ing, and is bordered with cottonwoods. On either side the banks are 

 low and sandy, frequently caving in, rendering it treacherous to 

 approach at certain seasons of the j'car. 



The neighboring plains are parched and dry in the spring and early 

 summer, and violent sandstorms sweep over them, oftentimes so dense 

 as to obscure all outlook. At these times work along archeological 

 lines is very disagreeable, and life in the village is far from pleasant. 



When approached from Winslow the ruin is indicated by a number 

 of low mounds without standing walls, and when it was first visited 

 there was little to indicate that it was the site of a former pueblo, save 

 many fragments of pottery strewn over the surface. The indications 

 that Ibnnolobi would be a profitable field for archeological investiga- 

 tion were very small. 



The excavation of ruin 1 of the Ilomolobi group i)egan about the 

 first day of June, when a force of 5 Mexicans was employed to open 

 the mounds at the northeast angle. The results of the work were not 

 very satisfactory. They betrayed the fact that Ilomolobi was a pueblo 

 of small size and of irregularly rectangular shape, with its highest walls 

 on the n(n-theast side. Considerable broken pottery, some stone 

 implemeuis, ami other objects were obtained, but all the evidences 

 appeared to indicate that the more valuable specimens were removed 

 when the pueblo was abandoned. 



"An illustrated account of this winter solstice ceremony may be found in the American 

 Anthropolotfist. v. 11, March and April, 1898. 



