New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-05
Az INDIAN SNAKE DANCE.


The sight OF Young men snake hunting days
beforehand had raised expectation on ptoc We knew
that priest was praliig and iasng ~ le esuin Where
the snakes were impls1ned ~ broken wafer. Jars we
knew also that MOk has skill 10 charm refractory
snake by tickling his back with the vanes OF two long
eagles that he carries hX'd toa woodch handle
when rode into the village on the nomcnt0s alter
i'm the mid lie %. that newly swept, but not
cleared Of dogs hut string OF fox tails hum over the
tho green. room Of the "Antclores." Some twenty
Indians OF all ages rcdenins their moe issins,
brushing their yard long hair and auOtng thclr bodies
with black ri sment made OF dccOmpOsed corn. iarec
picture done In cOorcd sands on the oor figured Tour
serpcnts white rcd. green and brown one' rear
ing their heads over bank OF clouds OF the same Iodr
cardinal cOlOIs
advanced stage OF costuning Tese Snakes +"
Their bodies asD were backcncd; their shoulders, thee
spots their bodies and the calves OF their less were
painted pink. They wore heavy necklaces. painted
aprons Of strange design and fine ocasslns aud gaiters
Their soOtcd and red feathers were III their
hair. tortoise shell rattle was attached to the rgh
garter In their hands tbey carried iealher-stcks ana
Splitting starch each others faces for gloss to
the SCOT was the finishing touch Climbing the ladder In
silence they hdeOus enough fit mpcrsonati0n Of
poisonous reptiles. or demons, for that matter lhey
rinng the naco Of each. the three, very small
boys had to take two steps on each rung. followed
10 favorable point OF observation among the multitude
the fat terIaccd roofs. The Anteopes were RANGED
before hs icaty tabernacle in midst OF the court the
Snakes formed in row Iosite tread water "
dancestep accompanied BY angry rafting and satchcs
silent wave OF feather sucks to low rattles.
Suddenly the song became fierce, and lively back
and onward step the part OF the Antelope was the
signal for the Snakes 20 break into couples Thus they
entered the tent through the opposing ne to issue FROM
with writing scrpents IN their bare hands, or en-
twined their InOcassns and vpers backsnakcs
and hsteIodons bow snakes, AMI that arc tOno-inc-
not cf0hias h0i1idus, ru0o RATHER. Are the serpent
dragged No. for many kissing head darts forth to
bite holder feOw-dancer Every participant carries
n wrggling tanse OF the venom0us creatures. Dozens
escape and slip among the bare legs. But tue feather
stick all powerful touch with the eagle
vanes a swift grab, and the fugtves are caught and
iourlshed aoft bat caught with a warness and hour,
poison fangs One gray-hared performer was quick To
enatch any large reptile too BIidy pursued by some
young or boy Of less experience At last lie was
happy, bunch Of ratcsnakes in either band aud fOut
foot specimen in his mouth The close aud climax came
suddenly lancer 10 one side sprlnkled circle OF
meal the ground and running round II threw streak
to It's centre from each OF the eight points OF the
compass. AL the serpens at thrown In pile
this figure OF u wheel and tho wnOls people, down 10
the smallest dipOshOvd that could toldle spat chcwed
cOrnea at them wncn sixteen Casnns. or messengers
10 the gods with armfus Of them from the gates Of
the village. Riding campward. ge saw them scattering
the creatures 10 the four quarters OK the earth