Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-17
Navajo Snake Dance.

From the Chicsso Tribune.
Benjamin Brink, Moqui, Arizona" was
written on the register at the Palmer House
yesterday by a robust-looking man Of sixty.
somewhat stoop-shouldered- Mr.. Brink Is an
Indian trader, and. as Moqui is ninety miles
away from the Pacific railroad, he saws he did
not hear about the trouble among the Indians
IN the northwest until four DAYS ago
''From what I have heard Of the .gho-s
dance, said Mr.. Brink, Il cannot SEE why IL
should stir up such a row. The snake dance
believe, is ten times more exciting. and the
Zuni, Navajo and Moqui Indians on the reser-
walton near my home work themselves into n
perfect frenzy during it's progress but never
think of molesting the whites.
1t IL part Of their religion. though, and IL
any attempt were made TO stop il believe there
would be bloodshed The dance takes place
once in two wears. The last one was celebrated
in July. Preparations were made several weeks
before IL came of, and was as anxious 10 be
spectator as they were. stranger or wilder
ceremony never saw. hope / shall never
see il again. The dance took place Just before
shutdown, and got up on high ledge. where I
could get good view. The space allowed for the
dancers not large and was inclosed.
Fifteen fne-looking Indians began to walk,
rather slowly at first, around huge stone in
the center of the Enclosure. They were almost
naked, and every part Of their bodies. even 10
their feet, was smeared with q red and green
paint. Each man had a fox's scalp dangling
from his waist, and in each hand carried a
rattle made of gourd. Hoofs Of deer were
tied around their ankles and wrists, and at
each step and movement Of the arm noise
enough was made TO wake the dead.
1.-The snakes 10 be used in the dance had been
caught several days before the fete and Just
before the dance had been placed in a cluster
Of trees beneath where 1 stood. After the men
had yelled till they were hoarse and had made
themselves tired with stamping on the ground
n m . dskf AaUp
a hill, filed into the Enclosure and then began
such q tumult as never want 60 hear again.
At given signal the siKty-fiye now thoroughly
frantic men made a rush for the grove
where the snakes were hidden. Each
man came rushing back with a wriggling
and squirming snake, Its neck between his teeth.
so II could not bite him. re-entered the ring and
began a slow walk around the center stone.
The reptiles Missed and dashed their tails and
bodies around the necks of the apparently mad
red men. Several Of them were bitten by the
snakes, which were the most venomous in the
country. IL is q wonder all OF the performers
were not bitten. Two OF them died q day or
two after the dance, the herbs applied not be-
ing sufficient to draw out the poison
after the ceremony each man snatched his
snake from his mouth, ran down into the valley
below and there the reptiles were set free. The
Indians were thoroughly exhausted after their
violent exercise and could scarcely crawl back
mp the hill. From what l could learn such
held for centuries-"
somewhere In desolate, wind-swept space"
a spot extremely drear)'
Two ghostly shapes met face TO face
On the second day o. the year.
So fresh and plithe on yestermorn
They'd been when nrst devised.
Now both were broken, bruised and torn
And scarce 10 be recognized
They looked In each others eyes with drssA
And questioned "Who were you;"
al was good resolve" said one.
Said rother. II was, too"