The Indian tradition is that soon after a very great flood of turbulent
waters, in the days when the Desert was knee-deep in grass, the Indian
Gods came from the Underworld to dwell in Casa Grande. (Not so very
different from theories of evolution and transmigration, is it?) The
people waxed so numerous that they split off in two great families. One
migrated to the south--the Pimas, the Papagoes, the Maricopas; the
others crossed the mountains to the north--the Zunis, the Mokis, the
Hopis.

Yet another proof of the great antiquity is in the language. Between
Papago and Moki tongue is not the faintest resemblance. Now if you trace
the English language back to the days of Chaucer, you know that it is
still English. If you trace it back to 55 B. C. when the Roman and Saxon
conquerors came, there are still words you recognize--thane, serf, Thor,
Woden, moors, borough, etc. That is, you can trace resemblances in
language back 1,900 years. You find no similarity in dialects between
Pima and Moki, and very few similarities in physical conformation. The
only likenesses are in types of structure in ancient houses, and in arts
and crafts. Both people build tiered houses. Both people make wonderful
pottery and are fine weavers, Moki of blankets and Pima of baskets; and
both people ascribe the art of weaving to lessons learned from their
goddess, the Spider Maid.

There are few fireplaces among the ancient dwellings of the Pimas and
Papagoes, but lots of fire pits--_sipapus_--where the spirits of the
Gods came through from the Underworld. Dancing floors, may pole rings,
abound among the cave dwellings: mounds and platforms and courts among
the Casa Grande ruins. The sun and the serpent were favored symbols to
both people, a fact which is easily understood in a cloudless land,
where serpents signified nearness of water springs, the greatest need of
the people. You can see among the cave dwellings where earthquakes have
tumbled down whole masses of front rooms; and both Moki and Papago have
traditions of "the heavens raining fire."

It has been suggested by scientists that the cliffs were cities of
refuge in times of war, the caves and Great Houses were permanent
dwellings. This is inferred because there were no _kivas_ or temples
among the cliff ruins, and many exist among the caves and Great Houses.
Cushing and Hough and I think two or three others regard Casa Grande as
a temple or great community house, where the tribes of the