The sun., 1909-05-02

The Same difference marks the mental
activities Of the two sexes. The men
seem to have little to concern themselves
about and are dull witted, while the
women are alert and energetic. and In
disposing Of their basketry and .pottery.
made by themselves, they are much the
better hsrgainers,
The men are slow Of speech and inclined
to be silent The women are laxative.
and a house building stunt is accom-
panied by more conversation than half a
dozen sewing circles among the pale
faces.
The harder tasks are cheerfuly shoul-
dered by the capable women, and while
they are busy at them the men are con-
demned to weave the clothing Of their
wives and knit the stockings for the
whole household. Only in the prepara-
ton Of food is the domesticity Of the
woman displayed
Every house has a corn grinding
trough. and corn meal is one OF the great
staples OF the Hopi household. Every
house has a shelf upon which is kept q
constant supply Of thin corn bread, some
times gray. sometimes red IN color
The halter is made cut OF dried corn meal.
water and some coloring matter OF ashes.
The stove is pile Of stones. The top stone
Is fat and rests over hot fire.
When it is OF the proper temperature re
the cook greases 1t with mutton tallow.
scoops out some batter with her fingers
and almost as soon as she sweeps her
hand over the stone the piki is cooked.
Then it is folded up and served hot or
laid away to await hunger's approach,
When o girl reaches marriageable age
the youth OF Hopi villages get ample
warning. Upon her usually pretty head
appear the two whoris which denote that
are made OF her hair. resembling two
gigantic ears surmounting the real ears.
In shape they are supposed to be akin
to the squash vines blossoms. symbolic
Of virginity.
it. Sometimes II is necessary to. resort
to force, but usually the man gives In
at the start, as he knows he must at the
last. He is at once set to work making
the cloth for the brides trousseau, while
she goes to his home and puts In few
weeks grinding corn for his mother.
On the wedding day down comes the
mass Of hair. Thereafter 1t hangs in two
Indian fashion,. These rolls are made in
imitation Of the squash. denoting fruit
fulness, their greatest wish.
THE little there is Of government il
in the hands Of the men. who also form
the priesthood. The Hopi is q very re-
ligious gentleman. About half OF each
month is taken up in religious ceremonials
Of one kind or another. Most famed OF
these ceremonials Is the snake dance:
The Indian Department has not been
very successful in inducing the Hopis
to assume the dress OF the white man.
The men wear their hair long. with a
band about the forehead. Their shirts
are Of calico. their trousers Of white
muslin slit on the side from the knee
down. They wear rawhide moccasns
and soleless socks. The more fastidious
assume loud velvet shirts, necklaces and
finger rings OF silver.
The women wear a dress made like .
blanket. This Is thrown over the shoul-
der and the two sides are sewed UP. An
opening il left for the right arm, while
the left shoulder remains bare. Around
the waist is worn a fancy woven sash.
| underneath which sometimes is calico
The skirt. rea ches Just below the knee.
When footwear is donned the mocoasin
is used. with stockings Of buckskin.
thongs OF the latter being used as gar
| ters above the knee.
The full subjection OF the Hopi hus-
band is found in the fact that he Ii re-
auired to do all the outside work. the
field labor. stock tending and the like.
This is in mark ed contrast TO the Indian
custom everywhere else.
There are about 1900 Hopis. men
women and children. The mesas upon
which they live rise direct from the des-
ert 800 to / 900 feet in height. They are
approached only by narrow and winding
paths.