The trust placed in Mormon visitors to the Hopi was shown by exhibition
to them of a sacred stone. On one of the visits of Andrew S. Gibbons,
accompanied by his sons, Wm. H. and Richard, the three were guests of old
Chief Tuba in Oraibi. Tuba told, of this sacred stone and led his friends
down into an underground kiva, from which Tuba's son was despatched into
a more remote chamber. He returned bringing the stone. Apparently it was
of very fine-grained marble, about 15x18 inches in diameter and a few
inches in thickness. Its surface was entirely covered with hieroglyphic
markings, concerning which there was no attempt at translation at the
time, though there were etched upon it clouds and stars. The Indians
appeared to have no translation and only knew that it was very sacred.
Tuba said that at one time the stone incautiously was exhibited to an
army officer, who attempted to seize it, but the Indians saved the relic
and hid it more securely.
The only official record available to this office, bearing upon the
stone, is found in the preface of Ethnological Report No. 4, as follows:
Mr. G. K. Gilbert furnished some data relating to the sacred stone kept
by the Indians of the village of Oraibi, on the Moki mesas. This stone
was seen by Messrs. John W. Young and Andrew S. Gibbons, and the notes
were made by Mr. Gilbert from those furnished him by Young, Few white men
have had access to this sacred record, and but few Indians have enjoyed
the privilege. The stone is a red-clouded marble, entirely different from
anything found in the region.