The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-08-07
Hela snaLe ln Re.erence.

- - ~
A story In the Old Testament has
made the snake an outlaw among the
white race. The Hopl Indians hold
the snake In reverence. There Il n
myth based on various events sup
posed 20 have occurred In the long
ago. that the snakes are In communal
cation with the gods of the under
ground. At the annual snake dance
the snake are gathered up from this
four OF the earth After the
snake ceremony they are again nber-
ated 10 carry back the prayers OF the
people.
You all know the story of Daniel in
the hons den There Il n legend
among the Navajo about M eagle.
The eagle ~ well as the snake IL
sacred among the Navajo. a Navajo
81 captivity.
The story OF the Eagle.
According to the story. one % their
great anccstora when the Navajo first
came here from the north. was cap
tured by the PuebIos and imprisoned
In "A small corral One day an eagle
came along aud the Navajo told him
water In his beak. Then the Navajo
told him he was hungry and the
eagle brought food. After the Navajo
partly reEained his strength he told
the eagle he wanted 10 go home TO
HIS people, The eagle left and short
~ returned with five other eagles.
They picked up the Navajo on bands
| pf lightning and started for his home.
Getting tired on h way the eagles
asked their friends the snakes for
help. The snakes said they could not
| HEN because they had no legs or
wings. Then the eagles plucked out
some Of their feathers and gave them
60 the snakes. who helped the Navajo
the rest Of the way home.
There are many stories and myths
about plumed snakes or water ser
penis.
Many Myths of Origin.
There are many different myths
about the origin OF various tribes.
Some OF these seem no more fantiatic
than the story OF Adam and Eve
Jonah and the whale or Noah'a ARR.
The Navajo believe that their first
ancestors were giants who rose out
Of the waters Of the Pacific. Most
scientists agree that the Navajo II
OF Monaghan origin and perhaps came
across the Pacific probably at Behr-
Ing Straits.
The HopI Adam and Eve.
The Adam and Eve OF the Hops
wore a man on a ana y
woman called the Spider Woman on
another mountain, the Intervening
space being covered by water. In
some way one Joined the other. Al
the same time there are many Other
myths, each separate blood clan with
In the tribe having somewhat dis
tlnctly separate legends.
The religion OF the Hopi peoples Il
somewhat similar TO the ancient
Greeks. II IL founded on what Is com
monty called the katchina cult Th'
Katchinas were supposed Hemi-nat
ural beings whO were the intermcd.
inr.es between the people and the goo
or gods In the other world.
Each clan nave their " pariicu.
lar KatchinaH or dcities- The iaitt
" perpetuated by certain individual
dressing ~ In certain costumes nns
masks supposedly in the Image o.
the long since vanished katchinns-
They appear on certain dates mo
unlike certain saints In other falthsl
going from house 10 house nmonl
the members OF their clan. Here thel
sing and chant and offerings by IN
people OF sacred meal and feather
on sacred trays are carried and de
posted on their underground shrine
or affairs.
mall wooden figures I'm the imag'
OF these Katchinas are prepared fol
these occasions and given 10 IN
children. In other words. SAINT
Claus multiplied iiopi fashion"