In the cañon of the Chaco, in northern New Mexico, there are many ruins
of ancient pueblos which are still in a fair state of preservation, in some of
them entire apartments being yet, it is said, intact. One of the largest of
these is called by the Navajos Kintyèl or Kintyèli, which signifies "Broad-house." It figures
frequently in their legends and is the scene of a very interesting rite-myth,
which I have in my collection. I have reason to believe that this pueblo is
identical with that seen and described in 1849 by Lieut. J. H. Simpson, U. S.
A.,[1] under the name of Pueblo Chettro
Kettle. Although his guide translated this "Rain Pueblo," it seems more
probably a corruption of the Navajo Tseçqa or Tceçga (English Chethra) Kintyèl, or Broad House among the Cliffs,—i. e. in the
cañon. This story of Noqoìlpi was not related to me as a separate tale, but
as a part of the great creation and migration legend of the Navajos. When the
wandering Navajos arrived at Kintyèl, this great pueblo was in process of building,
but was not finished. The way it came to be built was this: -
