PREY GOD FETICHES OF THE HUNT.
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,[*] 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[†] 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 that passing wonderful were the Snail People, and that no easy matter would it be to overcome their medicine and their magic. But they hastened forth until they came near to the cañon. Then the Shá'-la-k'o,[‡] who guided them, gave directions that they should make themselves ready for the hunt.