Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-11-01


ground over; or bones, raw or dissolved,
mixed with Peruvian guano; are prob
lens 10 be solved by our asricul,Ura!
people. One thing is certain: cur En-
clish cousins found out fifty Years ago
that if they wanted to double their
crops of wheat and turuips they must
use bones freely,
TnE SNAKE DANCE.-Mr. w. r. Ma
teer, Indian agent OF the Moqnis Pue-
bios, of Arizona, gave 81. Louis re-
porter thrilling accoHn, of a strange
ceremony practiccd by that tribe, called
the Snake Dance" The MoquiS re-
gard the serpent as sacred reptile. pos.
sessed of the power of controlling the
elements, and disposed 10 be friendly 10
man. They never kill snake, aud iTo-
quently handle the most poisonous SER
peut with impunity. The rsttlesnake is
regarded With special ven, ration, and
their bite is no more drea6ed than the
scratch of mcsquit thorn or the brick
ine of cactus. They have an an!idotc
for the bite OF raIlleSnake ahich is in-
faliible, and never fails 10 eject cure
in few minutes VIXEN administered
Immediately An Indian OF this tribe,
when bitten 10y a rattlcr. swallows tho
antdote at once, and, after being siupe-
fed for a moment, becomes cniirely rI-
stored and never feels any pain or IN.
convenience afterward. All attempts
of white men 10 learn the ingredients nj
this antido,o have proved futile, rs ,hls
secret is guarded with religious fidelity,
and an Indian would rather lay down
his life rather than communicate the IT.
ceipe for snake bites 10 pale face. II
white man is bitten 10y 4 rattlcsnake the
Indians will not hesitate to give him tho
aniidote, but he must not inquire what
il is composed Of
The supke dance is performed 10y the
Moquis every two years, aud isresortcd
to US a means of proritlating the Spirit
of the Summer Rain 10 send abundant
showers 10 irucliiy the earth and make
the crops grow. The corn is planted IN
the moist sand of the me,o,wilhout pre-.
plow is unknown 10 the Tribe, and alter
il has grown 10 certain height, aud
needs moislening from The clouds, prep.
arations are made for the grand snake
dance. a deep and wide excavation Is
made in the dirt floor OF one Of the lntg.
est houses in the village, aud the whole
tribe 90 out 10 hunt snakes. These they
catch with their hands and bring ihom
in twned around their necks, coiIcd in
their bosoms, or wrapped around their
leys ani arms. All kinds Of snakes are
captured-the rattlcr, tho viper, the
moccasin, the blue racer, the black, a.,
garter, the green, spoitcd--in fact ct,cvcry
variety existing IN the country. ThcSo
TO the number of several hundred nrc
placed in the pit in the floor, aud lhc
mouth is covered with buffalo robe, the
hairy side down 10 prevent the reptiles
from crawling out and escaping. Then
certain number Of the old men danca
around the pit, chanting monotonodS
songs and calling upon the Imprisoned
serpenls TO intcrcedc with the Spirit OF
the Clouds TO send rain upon the thirst.
ing cornfelds. a body Of younger men
next form circle around the pit and
90 through similar ceremony. Then
come the old women. who have differ
ent chant, then tho young married wo.
men, then the boys, anj finally tie ,ir.
gins with their hair done up in loops,
aud then for few moments 4 solemn 81
lence prevails, during which the Kissing
OF the scrpcnts aud The shril sound IL
their ra.tlos are heard under the buffalo
robe. These sounds are taken as flyor.
able tokens that the iBcanialiOus have
been successful, aud that a copious fall
of rain will follow. Then the buffalo
robe il removed, and then The men and
boys leap into the pit, and each one
brings forth q suake, which he holds ~
his mouth. Sometimes n man will
emerge with two or three small snakes
in h:s mouth. As each man omcrpes
from the pit with his mouth fall Of
snakes he runs at full speed down the
almost perpendicular side Of tho mssa
until he comes 10 the plain, and ihcro
gently releases his captives, who at once
take 10 the grass and quickly disap.
pear. After the pit has been empii,d
the men examine the wounds on their
arms. breast and faces, aud il blood has
been drawn they know that the iaBgs OF
a ratler have entered their 1csb, and
they lose no time 10 applying the anti
dolc.
The wounds inflicted by the rattle.
snakes arc very painful. The raitlcr
when pro, oked. Is tbe most savage Of
all serpenis, and will continue 10 striko
and laceraie an enemy rs long as be 10
within reach. Sometimes an old snnks
with llgrown tsngs viii fast.n upon
The cheek or arm Of an Indian and hold
on until the fangs are torn from bis
jaws. Mr.. Maieer witness one al these
snake dances ofthe Moquis recently aud
was horrifed at the sight lie saw The
blood streaming from the arms and
breasts Of the Indians, Who bore Tho
pain with stole indifference. and seemed
10 take pleasure in the iDfliciiOn. They
believed that the more savage the snakes
became the more cOpioUs would bc
the shower. On Ibe occasion II the last
snake dance the indians OF ono Of lie
villages refused TO participate. For
some reasons they believed the rain
would come without ibc dance, and
while the other villages we're engaged
in the ceremony they sai idly Ia iLeir
houses listening TO The noise aud sp,il-
ing at the unnecessary trouble their
Deigbbors were taking. SabsC qnemIy