The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-10-25


70 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
ne mad a snake crosswise in his mouth,
with the tail toward the left and the
head toward the right hand man. The
dance was, all this time, kept M in the
most continuous, solemn and careful
manner; and il was the business Of the
right hand man, with 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 il from doing injury
Then the left hand man of another
couple disappeared into the snake shade,
andsin due time emerged as his prede-
1cessor had done, with a snake ia his
mouth as above described. This process
was kept up until the left hand men Of
the entire fourteen couples were dancing
around the circle with one snake each
in their mouths, Then the left hand
man ofthc first couple again disappeared
into the snake shade and emerged as
before; but this time he had two snakes
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, ii 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 ac-
quircd two snakes, then the disappear
ance into the snake shade began again
and was continued as before until each
lefthand man of the fourteen couples had
acquired third snake. Then tho ex-
citement and s1lemnitywas 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-
ters 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, reappcayances, etc,
We're continued until all the snakes were
removed from the snake shade ard de-
posted in the consecrated circle. The
snakes were then all gathered mp by the
dancers and the priests and their assist
ants, and carefully, but in great haste,
carried down the declivitv of the mesa
into the surrounding valleys, and depos-
tied unharmed 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.
This done, walters and assistants APP
peared with soups, and afterward with
other food, and the snake dance ended
with ailfeast. Many OF the dancers had
been bitten, some Of them dangerously,
but death seldom occurs. The Moquis
claim that, to them, the snake is holy
and not poisonous, but two years ago
one death resulted from the bites.
We have in the Iribuee Office large
photo.of the village Of Wolpi, taken BY
the j. w. Powell exploring party some
years ago. Ii shows the east side Of
the town and mesa, with the sheep and
goat corrals near the top of the declivi-
ty, and the flat dancing floor on the
summit Of the broad, flat rock on which
the village stands. In this photo Prof.
Powell is able to distinguish the tall
standing rock around which the dance
occurred, and from this he is able to To-
cate the position of the snake shade, the
spectators and other points Of interest.
We think this short. imperfect sketch
may prove intolligiblc, and, perhaps,
interesting to our readers, and we will
add thatwe have succeeded in obtain
ing a promise from Prof. Powell, that,
when he reaches home and procures
from bis trunk the copious notes taken
by him on the occasion, he will prepare
for one of the monthly magazines full
and detailed account of this dangerous
and solemn snake dance of the Rattle
snake Moauis. This danceis properly
reckoned the most thrilling and Won
derful aboriginal ceremony which is
now known to be practiced. After
making all due allowances for the skill
in management bY hands that haYelbeen
accustomed to snake training and snake
handling for twenty generations or
more, for the soothing, stupefNng and
healing qualities which, probably, are
possessed BY the secret lsacredg) oint-
iietits, meal and water which are freely
used ON the dancers and the snakes, the
fact still remains that to the Moqui
snake dance attaches an interest and
mystery seldom egualed
among the religious ceremonies of men.
AS a single example lof thepower Of
skill and Judgment, we understand that
4 skilled snake handler VIII never
touch rattlesnake when cpiled up.
The coil is the striking and biting posi-
tion. With a stick, or otherwise, qui-
etly and gently straighten out the snake,
and it then may be grasped with i'm
punity. Other points of management
well known to experienced men are,
doubtless, equally important; yet, after
all allowances are made, this wonder
fnl, dangerous ceremony is capable of
the eredulity of most men
who have not witnessed. It. and exciting