It also happened about that time, so
tradition says, more of the Coyote people came from the north, and the
Piky?s nyu-mu, the young cornstalk, who were the latest of the Water
people, came in from the south. The Siky?tki, having acquired their
friendship, induced them to build on two mounds, on the summit of the
mesa overlooking their village. They had been greatly harrassed by the
young slingers and archers of Walpi, who would come across to the edge
of the high cliff and assail them with impunity, but the occupation of
these two mounds by friends afforded effectual protection to their
village. These knolls are about 40 yards apart, and about 40 feet above
the level of the mesa which is something over 400 feet above Siky?tki.
Their roughly leveled summits measure 20 by 10 feet and are covered with
traces of house walls; and it is evident that groups of small-roomed
houses were clustered also around the sloping sides. About a hundred
yards south from their dwellings the people of the mounds built for
their own protection a strong wall entirely across the mesa, which at
that point is contracted to about 200 feet in width, with deep vertical
cliffs on either side. The base of the wall is still quite distinct, and
is about 3 feet thick.
But no reconciliation was ever effected between the Walpi and the
Siky?tki and their allies, and in spite of their defensive wall frequent
assaults were made upon the latter until they were forced to retreat.
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