The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-12-01

Alter a given number OF rounds, danced
to the same monotonous chant, with
great solemnity pictured on every face,
the left hand man of one pair of the
dancers disappeared behind the curtain
into the snake shade. When he EMERGED
he had a snake crosswise in his mouth,
1 with the tail toward the left and the
head toward the right hand man. The
dance was. all this time, Kept up in the
most continuous, solemn and careful
manner; and it was the business of the
right hand man, with a small wand in
the right hand and his left hand rest
ing on the neck of his partner, by close
attention and quick motions and gestic-
ulations to engage the attention of the
snake, and prevent itfrom doing injury.
Then the left hand man of another
couple disappeared into the snake shade,
and in due time emerged as his prede-
cessor had done, with snake in his
mouth as above described. This process
was kept up until the left hand. h4en Of
the entire fourteen couples were dancing
around thescircle with one snake each
in their mouths. Then the left hand
man of the first couple again disappeared
into the snake shade and emerged as
in his mouth, and this process was con
tinued until the left hand men of the
entire fourteen couples were dancing
around the circle with two snakes each
in their mouths. There was now some
danger of snakes being dropped and es-
Gaping. This was closely watched and
the fallen snakes, if any, were immedi-
ately captured by the priests and assist
ants and restored to the men who drop
ped them, or to one of the dancers in
| the company that was standing idle.
| When the left hand men had each &C
CURED two snakes, then the disappear
ance into the snake shade began again
and was continued as before until each
finland man of the fourteen couples had
acquired third snake. Then tho ex-
element and sOlemnity was intense and
earnest, and the dropping of snakes
more frequent. The snakes were then
unloaded into consecrated circle
drawn on the ground. The space of
this circle was divided into four quar-
tiers by two marks drawn across it
through the center at right angles to
each other, and this circle was carefully
sprinkled with sacred meal and holy
water. The same processes of dancing,
| disappearances, temperatures, etc,
were continued until all the snakes were
| removed from the snake shade and de-
posted in the consecrated circle. The
snakes were then all gathered up by the
dancers and the priests and their assist
ants, and carefully, but in great haste,
carried down the declivity of the mesa
into the surrounding valleys, and depos-
tied unframed in their former homes.
The dancers then hurried back into the
village and retired into the estufas, or
! lodge rooms, where they were caused
to vomit and were anointed by the
| priests in the most solemn manner.
Thisdone, walters and assistants ap-
peared'vith soups, and afterward with
other fooA and the snake dance ended
with teasts Many of the dancers had
4 been bitten, soma of then dangerously,
but death seldom occurs. TX. Monnie
I claim that, to them, the snake * boIv
and not poisonous, but two years.
I one death resulted from the bites.
4 We have in the Tribune office a large
4 photo of the village of Wolpi, taken by
4 the j. w. Powell exploring party some
years ago. 1t shows the east side 0
the town and mesa, with the sheep ant
goat corrals near the top of the decllyl
Il ty, and the flat dancing floor on tn
summit of the broad, fiat rock on whicl
8 the village stands. In this photo Prof
7 Powell is able to distinguish the tal
standing rock around which the dane
occurred, and from this he4is able to 'lo
cate the position Of the snake shade, tn
: spectators and other points of interest
: We think this short, imperfect sketc
! NAV prove Ineligible, and, perhaps
: interesting toSour readers andswe wi
add that we have succeeded in obtain
> ing promise from Prof Powell, tha
" when he reaches home and procure
:. from his trunk the copious notes take
by him on the occasion, he will prepal
for one of the monthly magazines FIJI
J; and detailed account of this dangerol
= and solemn snake dance of the Rattl
y. ~ snake Moquis. This dance is properl
= reckoned the most thrilling and wol
y derful aboriginal ceremony which
- now known to be practiced. Aft
Z making all due allowances for the SIX
~ in management by hands that have BET
Y accustomed to snake training and snal
:: handling for twenty generations
% more, for the soothing, Supplying al
nGdllu2 NudllblCa -
vs. vs. possessed by the secret (sacred?) Or
4 ments, meal and water which are free
- used on the dancers and the snakes, t
80 fact still remains that to the Moe
: snake dance attaches an interest a
~ y" wonderful mystery seldom equal
~. among the religious. ceremonies of me
Il As single example of the power
NJ skill and Judgment, we understand Il
- a skilled snake handler will me-
he touch a rattlesnake when cooled |
y The coil is the striking and biting pc
10 ton. With stick, or otherwise, q
N city and gently straighten out the sna
ed and it then may be grasped with
Of punity. Other points of managem
are well known to experienced men a
nd doubtless, equally important; yet, al
~ all allowances are made, this wonC
- - full, dangerous ceremony is capable
- staggering the credulity of most n
~ ~, who have not witnessed it, and excit
aai the profoundest wonder in the mind
nd those who have.
the HISTORICAL SKETCH.
les. The Moquis are tribe of Pueblo
,er- town building Indians, whose manr
lrts and customs remain unchanged.