100 INDIANS OF THE SOUTHWEST. 



rooms, but not much more uniformity is found to 

 exist than would be expected to result from the ordinary 

 ties of blood relationship. It is true that certain 

 Ho])i kivas are looked upon as clan kivas and certain 

 eagle nests are recognized as clan property. 



The women have equal if not superior property 

 rights with the men in the har\'ested crops and in the 

 flocks of sheep and goats. The horses only are con- 

 sidered the undisputed property of the men to be 

 disposed of without consulting the wives. 



It is important to note that the ceremonies of the 

 Hopi are generally associated with certain clans or 

 group of clans who lead in their celebration. In the 

 case of certain clans, the snake clan for example, the 

 name does represent a mythical ancestor from which 

 the clan is believed to be descended. In general, 

 however, the explanation of the clan's name and origin 

 is geographical or incidental. It is believed to have 

 lived in a particular localit}', usually where ruins are to 

 be seen, where it bore as a political unit the name which 

 it now has as a clan. When the clans came to Oraibi, 

 in mythical times, each was asked if it had some cere- 

 mony that would cause rain to fall, the crops to grow, 

 or in some other way promote the public welfare. It 

 seems then that the social religious system existing in 

 the villages of the Southwest may properh' be called 

 totemism, provided that term be used in a broad sense. 



The Indian explanation of the origin of the clans, 

 that they have resulted from the migration of former 

 poHtically independent bodies who have thus been 



