Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-10-04
MOQUiS SNAKE DANCE.
a Disgusting Ceremony That Has No
Equal In Cruel Terror

In the village of the Moqul, Indians
in Arizona there is celebrated each
year the snake daace, ceremony of a
secret Indian society, which has not
its equal in cruel terror. The prepa-
ration for the affair takes sixteen days.
During the first eight days the medi-
cine men and chiefs put the dancing
place in order, and brew a secret
drink which secures them against the
effects OF the poisonous bites. Dur
ing the last eight days the snakes are
hunted for which are to be the invol-
untary participators in the dance"
This year there were gathered about
$50 snakes of fair size. The Moquis
first subjected them 10 sudden cold
bath, rolled them in the sand until
they were dry and then laid them in
large stone jars, which were then
sealed air-tight with tanned skins.
Nobody thought of extracting the
poisonous fangs of the serpents.
Through that the effects of the
charm" would have been destroyed.
On the evening of the feast "gen-
eral rehearsal was held, which. how
ever proved harmless, for in that the
snakes were not brought into requisi-
ton. After the "active members"
had sung and danced enough, they
went 10 rest to prepare themselves for
the work of the next day. Close TO
the village there had been erected a
large wooden structure where the
snakes, carefully tied in bags, were
brought. Before this shanty extend
ed big, clear space, in the middle OF
which there lay heavy stone. Be-
fore the door OF the shanty there lay
long board, which was scrubbed clean
keep all evil spirits away from the
dancers. Then came the dancers.
The first group of them. con-
sisting of thirty-siX men, were fantas-
tically decorated. Each Moqui held in
one hand rattler and in the other
stick, on the end of which were fast
ened turkey feathers. The warriors
marched around the place several
times in ceremonioIs manner, and
then settled at one end of it. These
were the singers, whose duty IL was to
enhance the feast by their song. Then
came the real warriors, also consisting
of thirty -six men. They were greeted
with howl, and the singers then sent
forth their songs and thus the
real feast commenced The dancers
ID IN, IN. 20 10 oh
tied the bags and took as many snakes
as each could carry, and returned to
the dancing place. Once there, the
dancers put the heads Of the snakes
into their mouths. 1t was a ter
rible sight to see the disgusting
animals make vain attempts to free
themselves from their uncomfortable
position. Other warriors considered
it an honor to hold the snakes by the
tails and keep them so straight that
they could not wind themselves around
the breast and neck OF the dancers. As
soon as they completed one circle
around the place, the snakes were spit
out and caught by others, who carried
them around in circle until the whole
dance was over. New snakes were
constantly being supplied from the
shanty and put in the mouth until the
whole stock was exhausted.
During all this the singers were
heard to make diabolical noise, the
dancers jumped and wriggled like
crazy devils, and the scared snakes in
many cases liberated themselves from
the hands of the attendants, who held
them by the tail ends. and then
squirmed and struck around them.
Sometimes a snake got out OF the mouth
of one OF the dancers, and as quick as
an arrow disappeared in the crowd
that surrounded the place. The women
and girls screamed and cried, and
tried to save themselves by flight,
while the "warriors" sought TO retake
the fugitives
At last the dance was over. The
snakes were carefully replaced in their
cases and taken away, and next day
set at liberty again. The tired dancers
refreshed themselves with a "well-
deserved" meal. and went to rest, and
soon the scene OF the strange occur
renee was deserted and empty. The
Moquis keep the composition OF their
charm-drink. which makes the bite OF
the snakes harmless, rs a great secret
Il, In,,,nu1