According to one authority (Kalakwai) the route of migration of the
Hano clans from their ancient home, Tcewadi, led them first to Jemesi
(Jemez), where they rested a year. From Jemesi they went to Orpinpo or
Pawikpa ("Duck water"). Thence they proceeded to Kepo, or Bear spring,
the present Fort Wingate, and from this place they continued to the
site of Fort Defiance, thence to Wukopakabi or Pueblo Ganado.
Continuing their migration they entered Puñci, or Keam's canyon, and
traversing its entire length, arrived at Isba, or Coyote spring, near
the present trail of the East Mesa, where they built their pueblo.
This settlement (Kohti) was along the foot-hills to the left of the
spring, near a large yellow rock or cliff called Sikyaowatcomo
("Yellow-rock mound"). There they lived for some time, as the debris
and ground-plan of their building attest. Their pueblo was a large
one, and it was conveniently near a spring called Uñba, now filled up,
and Isba, still used by the Hano people.
Shortly after their arrival Ute warriors made a new foray on the Hopi
pueblos, and swarmed into the valley north of Wala,[11] capturing many
sheep which they drove to the hills north of the mesa.[12] The Tewa
attacked them at that place, and the Ute warriors killed all the sheep
which they had captured, making a protecting rampart of their
carcasses. On this account the place is now called Sikwitukwi ("Meat
pinnacle"). The Tewa killed all but two of their opponents who were
taken captives and sent home with the message that the Bears had come,
and if any of their tribe ever returned as hostiles they would all be
killed. From that time Ute invasions ceased.
According to another good authority in Tewa lore, the _Asa_ people
left "Kaëkibi," near Abiquiu, in northern New Mexico, about the time
the other Tewa left Tcewadi They traveled together rapidly for some
time, but separated at Laguna, the _Asa_ taking the southern route,
via Zuñi. The Tewa clans arrived first (?) at Tusayan and waited for
the _Asa_ in the sand-hills near Isba. Both groups, according to this
authority, took part in the Ute fight at Sikwitukwi, and when they
returned the village chief of Walpi gave the _Asa_ people for their
habitation that portion of the mesa top northeast of the _Tewakiva_,
while the present site of Hano was assigned to the Tewa clans. During
a famine the _Asa_ moved to Tübka (Canyon Tsegi, or "Chelly"), where
they planted the peach trees that are still to be seen. The ruined
walls east of Hano are a remnant of the pueblo abandoned by them. The
_Asa_ intermarried with the Navaho and lost their language. When they
returned to the East Mesa the Hopi assigned to them for their houses
that part of Walpi at the head of the stairway trail on condition that
they would defend it.[13]
In view of the tenacity with which the women of Hano have clung to
their language, even when married to Hopi men, it seems strange that
the _Asa_ lost their native dialect during the short time they lived
in Tsegi canyon; but the _Asa_ men may have married Navaho women, and
the Tanoan tongues become lost in that way, the _Asa_ women being in
the minority. There is such uniformity in all the legends that the
_Asa_ were Tanoan people, that we can hardly doubt their truth,
whatever explanation may be given of how the _Asa_ lost their former
idiom.
In 1782 Morfi described Hano,[14] under the name "Tanos," as a pueblo
of one hundred and ten families, with a central plaza and streets. He
noted the difference of idiom between it and Walpi. If Morfi's census
be correct, the pueblo has diminished in population since his time.
Since 1782 Hano has probably never been deserted, although its
population has several times been considerably reduced by epidemics.
In return for their aid in driving the Ute warriors from the country,
the Hopi chief gave the Tewa all the land in the two valleys on each
side of the mesa, north and east of a line drawn at right angles to
_Wala_, the Gap. This line of demarcation is recognized by the Tewa,
although some of them claim that the Hopi have land-holdings in their
territory. The line of division is carefully observed in the building
of new houses in the foot-hills, for the Hopi families build west of
the line, the Tewa people east of it.