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The Unwritten Literature of the Hopi by Hattie Greene Lockett
page 53 of 114 (46%)
the spring, coming up the hill, and to the last act before the Kisa,
leaves the imprint of its strange musical vibration long after the scene
has closed.

The legend back of this ceremony is a long account of the migrations of
the Horn and Flute people. It relates that when they at last reached
Walpi, they halted at a spring and sent a scout ahead to see if people
were living there. He returned and reported that he had seen traces of
other people. So the Flute people went forth to find them. When they
came in sight of the houses of Walpi, they halted at the foot of the
mesa, then began moving up the trail in ceremonial procession, with
songs and the music of the flutes.

Now the Bear and Snake people who lived in Walpi drew a line of meal
across the trail, a warning understood by many primitives, and
challenged the new-comers as to who they were, where they were going,
and what they wanted. Then the Flute chief said, "We are of your blood,
Hopi. Our hearts are good and our speech straight. We carry on our backs
the tabernacle of the Flute Altar. We can cause rain to fall."

Four times the demand was repeated, as the Flute people stood
respectfully before the barrier of meal, and four times did their chief
make the same reply. Then the Walpis erased the line of meal and the
Flute people entered the pueblo, set up their altars and demonstrated
their rain magic by singing their ceremonial Flute songs which resulted
in bringing the needed rain. Then said the Bear and Snake chiefs,
"Surely your chief shall be one of our chiefs."

Thus we see that the Flute Dance as given today is a dramatization of
this legend. Dr. Fewkes, who collected this legend, tells us that the
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