The chiefs Wiki and Simo, and others, have told you their stories,
and surely their ancestors were living here at Walpi when Awatobi
was occupied. It was a large village, and many people lived there,
and the village chief was called Tapolo, but he was not at peace
with his people, and there was quarreling and trouble. Owing to
this conflict only a little rain fell, but the land was fertile
and fair harvests were still gathered. The Awatobi men were bad
[_powako_, sorcerers]. Sometimes they went in small bands among
the fields of the other villagers and cudgeled any solitary
workers they found. If they overtook any woman they ravished her,
and they waylaid hunting parties, taking the game and sometimes
killing the hunters. There was considerable trouble at Awatobi,
and Tapolo sent to the Oraibi chief asking him to bring his people
and kill the evil Awatobeans. The Oraibis came and fought with
them, and many were killed on both sides, but the Oraibis were not
strong enough to enter the village and were compelled to withdraw.
On his way back, the Oraibi chief stopped at Walpi and talked with
the chiefs there. Said he, "I can not tell why Tapolo wants the
Oraibis to kill his folks, but we have tried and have not
succeeded very well. Even if we did succeed, what benefit would
come to us who live too far away to occupy the land? You Walpi
people live close to them and have suffered most at their hands;
it is for you to try." While they were talking Tapolo had also
come, and it was then decided that other chiefs of all the
villages should convene at Walpi to consult. Couriers were sent
out, and when all the chiefs had arrived Tapolo declared that his
people had become sorcerers [Christians], and hence should all be
destroyed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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