Zuñi Fetiches | Page 8

the latter third of
the long recital, where it pictures the tribes of the Zuñis, under the
guidance of the Two Children, and the Kâ[']-kâ at Kó-thlu-ël-lon-ne,

now a marsh-bordered lagune situated on the eastern shore of the
Colorado Chiquito, about fifteen miles north and west from the pueblo
of San Juan, Arizona, and nearly opposite the mouth of the Rio Concho.
This lagune is probably formed in the basin or crater of some extinct
geyser or volcanic spring, as the two high and wonderfully similar
mountains on either side are identical in formation with those in which
occur the cave-craters farther south on the same river. It has, however,
been largely filled in by the débris brought down by the Zuñi River,
which here joins the Colorado Chiquito. Kó-thlu-ël-lon signifies the
"standing place (city) of the Kâ[']-kâ" (from Kâ=a contraction of
Kâ[']-kâ, the sacred dance, and thlu-ël-lon=standing place).
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ANIMALS.
Men began their journey from the Red River, and the Kâ[']-kâ still
lived, as it does now, at Kó-thlu-ël-lon-ne, when the wonderful Snail
People (not snails, as may be inferred, but a tribe of that name), who
lived in the "Place of the Snails" (K'iá-ma-k'ia-kwïn), far south of
where Zuñi now is, caused, by means of their magic power, all the
game animals in the whole world round about to gather together in the
great forked cañon-valley under their town, and there to be hidden.
The walls of this cañon were high and insurmountable, and the whole
valley although large was filled full of the game animals, so that their
feet rumbled and rattled together like the sound of distant thunder, and
their horns crackled like the sound of a storm in a dry forest. All round
about the cañon these passing wonderful Snail People made a road (line)
of magic medicine and sacred meal, which road, even as a corral, no
game animal, even though great Elk or strong Buck Deer, could pass.
Now, it rained many days, and thus the tracks of all these animals
tending thither were washed away. Nowhere could the Kâ[']-kâ or the
children of men, although they hunted day after day over the plains and
mountains, on the mesas and along the cañon-valleys, find prey or trace
of prey.
Thus it happened that after many days they grew hungry, almost
famished. Even the great strong Shá'-la-k'o and the swift Sá-la-mo-pi-a

walked zigzag in their trails, from the weakness of hunger. At first the
mighty Kâ[']-kâ and men alike were compelled to eat the bones they
had before cast away, and at last to devour the soles of their moccasins
and even the deer-tail ornaments of their dresses for want of the flesh of
K'iap-in-á-hâ-i, Game animals.
Still, day after day, though weak and disheartened, men and the
Kâ[']-kâ sought game in the mountains. At last a great Elk was given
liberty. His sides shook with tallow, his dewlap hung like a bag, so
fleshy was it, his horns spread out like branches of a dead tree, and his
crackling hoofs cut the sands and even the rocks as he ran westward.
He circled far off toward the Red River, passed through the Round
Valley, and into the northern cañons. The Shá'-la-k'o was out hunting.
He espied the deep tracks of the elk and fleetly followed him. Passing
swift and strong was he, though weak from hunger, and ere long he
came in sight of the great Elk. The sight gladdened and strengthened
him; but alas! the Elk kept his distance as he turned again toward the
hiding-place of his brother animals. On and on the Sha'-la-k'o followed
him, until he came to the edge of a great cañon, and peering over the
brink discovered the hiding-place of all the game animals of the world.
"Aha! so here you all are," said he. "I'll hasten back to my father,
Pá-u-ti-wa,[1] who hungers for flesh, alas! and grows weak." And like
the wind the Shá'-la-k'o returned to Kó-thlu-ël-lon-ne. Entering, he
informed the Kâ[']-kâ, and word was sent out by the swift
Sá-la-mo-pi-a[2] to all the We-ma-á-hâ-i for counsel and assistance, for
the We-ma-á-hâ-i were now the Fathers of men and the Kâ[']-kâ . The
Mountain Lion, the Coyote, the Wild Cat, the Wolf, the Eagle, the
Falcon, the Ground Owl, and the Mole were summoned, all hungry and
lean, as were the Kâ'-kâ and the children of men, from want of the flesh
of the game animals. Nevertheless, they were anxious for the hunt and
moved themselves quickly among one another in their anxiety. Then
the passing swift runners, the Sá-la-mo-pi-a, of all colors, the yellow,
the blue, the red, the white, the many colored, and the black, were
summoned to accompany the We-ma-á-hâ-i to the cañon-valley of the
Snail People. Well they knew