the grand canyon of arizona-第39章
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e hole； it widened out larger than his body； and he passed down into a roomy kiva。〃
* Spider…Woman is an important figure in Hopi mythology。 She it is who weaves the clouds so that rain may come。 Hence in many Hopi ceremonies； where rain is prayed for； she is especially propitiated。
The legend then goes on to describe how Tiyo is taken and guided by the Spider…Woman to various places； where he learned all about the ceremonies that the Hopis now perform at their Snake Dance to produce rain。 He met the Sun and the Great Snake （Go…to…ya）； and Mu…i…yin…wuh （a divinity of the underworld who makes all the germs of life）； and each taught him something he needed to learn。 Finally； after many wonderful adventures； he was lifted out of the underworld as he sat in a ho…a…pah； a kind of wicker pannier； with two beautiful maidens of the snake kiva； by Spider…Woman； who carried him over the country and deposited him at his home。 He married one of the maidens and thus founded the Snake Clan； and his brother married the other and founded the Snake…Antelope Clan。 These two clans each year perform the ceremonies that produce rain in the desert land； where still live the descendants of Tiyo and his brother。
Wallapai Legend of the Canyon。 The Wallapais say that it was one of their cultus…heroes； Pack…i…tha…a…wi； who made the Grand Canyon。 There had been a big flood； and the earth was covered with water。 No one could stir but Pack…i…tha…a…wi； and he went forth carrying a big knife he had prepared of flint； and a large； heavy； wooden club。 He struck the knife deep into the water…covered ground and then smote it deeper and deeper with his club。 He moved it back and forth as he struck it further into the earth； until the canyon was formed through which all the water rushed out into the Sea of the Sunset。 Then； as the sun shone； the ground became hard and solid； as we find it to…day。
The Havasupai Legend of the Canyon。 The Havasupais also have a legend connected with the making of the Grand Canyon； and the reader will observe with interest the points of the story that are similar to points in the Hopi story just given。 This story was told to me by O…dig…i…ni…ni…na； one of the old men story…tellers of the Havasupais。
〃The two gods of the universe are Tochopa and Hokomata。 Tochopa he heap good。 Hokomata he heap badhanatopogiall same white man's devil。 Him Hokomata make big row with Tochopa； and he say he drown the world。
〃Tochopa was full of sadness at the news。 He had one daughter whom he devotedly loved； and from her he had hoped would descend the whole human race for whom the world had been made。 If Hokomata persisted in his wicked determination； she must be saved at all hazard。 So； working day and night； he speedily prepared the trunk of a pinion tree by hollowing it out from one end。 In this hollow tree he placed food and other necessaries； and also made a lookout window。 Then he brought his daughter； and telling her she must go into this tree and there be sealed up； he took a sad farewell of her； closed up the end of the tree； and then sat down to await the destruction of the world。 It was not long before the floods began to descend。 Not rain； but cataracts； rivers； deluges came； making more noise than a thousand Hackataias （Colorado Rivers） and covering all the earth with water。 The pinion log floated； and in safety lay Pu…keh…eh； while the waters surged higher and higher； and covered the tops of Hue…han…a…patch…a （the San Francisco range）； Hue…ga…woo…la （Williams Mountain）； and all the other mountains of the world。
〃But the waters of heaven could not always be pouring down； and soon after they had ceased； the flood upon the earth found a way to rush to the sea。 And as it dashed down； it cut through the rocks of the plateaus； and made the deep Chic…a…mi…mi （canyon） of the Colorado River Hackataia。 Soon all the water was gone。
〃Then Pukeheh found the log no longer floating； and she peeped out of the window Tochopa had placed in her boat； and； though it was misty and almost dark she could see in the dim distance the great mountains of the San Francisco range。 And near by was the Canyon of the Little Colorado； and to the west and north was Hackataia； and to the west was the Canyon of the Havasu。
〃The flood had lasted so long that she was grown to be a woman； and； seeing the water gone； she came out and began to make pottery and baskets； as her father had long ago taught her。 But she was a woman。 And what is a woman without a child in her arms or nursing at her breasts？ How she longed to be a mother！ But where was a father for her child？ Alas！ there was not a man in the whole universe？
〃Day after day； longing for maternity filled her heart； until one morning glorious morning for Pukeheh and the Havasu racethe darkness began to disappear； and in the far…away east soft and new brightness appeared。 It was the triumphant Sun； coming to conquer the long night and bring light into the world。 Nearer and nearer he came； and； at last； as he peeped over the far…away mesa summits； Pukeheh arose and thanked Tochopa； for here； at last； was a father for her child。 She conceived； and in the fullness of time bore a son； whom she delighted in and called In…ya…a； the son of the Sun。
〃But as the days rolled on； she again felt the longings for maternity。 By this time she had wandered far to the west and had entered the beautiful Canyon of the Havasu； where deep down between the rocks were several grand and glorious waterfalls； and one of these； Wa…ha…hath…peek…ha…ha； she determined should be the father of her second child。
〃When it was born it was a girl； and to this day all the girls of the Havasu are proud to be called 'Daughters of the water。'
〃When these two children grew up they married； and thus became the progenitors of the human race。 First the Havasupais were born； then the Apaches； then the Wallapais； then the Hopis； then the Paiutes； then the Navahos。
〃And Tochopa told them all where they should live； and you find them there to this day。〃
CHAPTER XXVIII。 The Colorado River From The Mountains To The Sea
Perhaps no river in the world has so remarkable a life…history as has the Colorado。 It is formed of two great streams； the Green and the Grand。 Both have their rise in the far…away mountains； in banks of virgin and purest snow。 Hence the waters of the Colorado at their source are pure and sweet。 Yet such is the vehement force of this river； such its haste to reach the ocean； that it cuts down and carries with it millions of tons annually of sand and silt； rock debris and dirt until； when it reaches the desert； through which it flows as a lazy dragon； reddish…yellow； tawny； it is the dirtiest stream in the world。 For not only does it carry the sand of its own grinding； as it passes through the hundred miles of canyon of its waterway； but it accepts the sweepings of vast areas made by its tributaries。 Some of these extend through barren and desolate areas；great stretches of the most forsaken desert lands； where the rains occasionally pour down with deluge…like force。 Cloudbursts and floods are common； for the whole country is high in altitude； with rising peaks； where electric storms play and rage； and the clouds drop； with a sudden sweep； their whole burden of water to the earth beneath。 At other times； the waters are allowed to pour down in torrential rains which quickly deluge the land； and as there are no barriers to hinder or detain； they sweep down the inhospitable slopes to the stream beds； carrying with them all the sand； silt； rock debris； vegetable mould and animal matter that have accumulated since the last storm。 So that while at its source it is the purest river in the world； at its mouth it is the dirtiest and most repulsive。 The Mississippi； with many more miles of length； the Nile； the Amazon； the Yangste…Kiang； the Hoang…Ho； are all far cleaner at their mouths than is this insatiable dragon of the Canyon。
Carrying Power of the River。 This suggests another singularity in which it doubtless reigns supreme。 Probably no river in the world； of its length； has anything like the carrying power of the Colorado within its waters。 Notice that I say 〃within its waters。〃 It is useless for carrying anything on its bosom。 No ships use its waters for beneficent commerce。 Its only carrying power is in the amount of sand and other material it holds in solution； and carries within itself。
Its Incredible Descent。 For it is doubtful whether any river in the world has so rapid a descent from towering mountain heights to its receiving ocean； as has the Colorado。 It falls over four thousand two hundred feet from its source to its mouth； and in less than five hundred miles of its distance it contains five hundred and twenty rapids； falls and cataracts。 A fall or a rapid or a cataract for every mile； and a few over for good measure。 Who can conceive the peril of journeying through such a river？ And until the facts were known； how hopeless to attempt to ascend such a river； as did Alarcon； Ives and Wheeler！
Useless for Commerce。 As already stated； it is the most useless of the large rivers of the world as a carrier of ships of commerce。 No boat； carrying produce of field； mill or mart； has ever passed up or down its course。 No whitewinged schooner or other merchantman has enlivened its course by proudly gliding on its bosom to waiting port； where cargoes are discharged and received。 No thrilling fleet of battleships ever has seen its banks； or ever will； for it is useless； absolutely； irretrievably； God…ordainedly useless for all purposes of commerce； traffic； or communication。
Dangerous and Destructive。 Read the accounts of Powell's trips down its dangerous course； of Alarcon's struggles to ascend its headlong tides； of Ives's and Wheeler's attempts to explore a portion of it； of Cardenas's efforts even to reach its waters from one of its banks； and of the ruthless manner in which it has destroyed the lives of those unfortunate enough to come within its reach。 Then you will see how absolutely useless a river it is。 In this regard the Colorado River is unique。 Most rivers carry beneficent life all along their journey。 They distribute fructifying waters； from their rise to their end in the sea。 Thriving towns and villages line their banks； all surrounded by a fertile farming country。 But not so the Colorado！ It has cut its way through the rocks so fiercely that it is buried a thousand； two thousand； three thousand and even five thousand and more feet below the surrounding country。 It and its tributaries drain away even the water that falls in gentle showers； before it has time to benefit the thirsty land。 Only by the expensive construction of cemented cisterns and occasional dams can the rancher； stockman and miner of the region hoard for his scantest needs enough of this precious fluid。 Even the hotels that are placed upon its brink to afford stopping…places for the curious travelers who wish to see this river and its unique waterway are compelled to haul their trains of water…cars nearly a hundred miles to supply themselves with the water which the Colorado River drains from their very dooryards and empties in reckless neglect into the Gulf of California。
Yields No Electrical Power。 Other rivers throughout California and t
