Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-16

| snake from one Of the logs and after putting
| 1t into his mouth and firmly fixing it there
with his teeth, he started on his round.
His companion, with his arm around his
| neck, kept the tail of the snake in position
with his left hand, while with his right. in
| which he carried stick with two long
feathers attached, he keptthe serpent from
becoming entangled in the hair of the
dancer. The snake after being carried
around the circle was thrown from the
! mouth, when the third member of the group
gathered it up and carried it for the rest of
the dance, occasionally, however, giving it
TO one of the spectators to hold, which they
did in a very modest manner
At times the serpents would try TO make
their escape, and would make dash for
liberty through athe crowds which sur
rounded the dancers. and the spectators
would
SCATTER IN ALL DIRECTIONS
until the snakes were recaptured by the
dancers and carried back into the circle and
more securely held. The visits to the shed
were continued until at least $50 snakes had
been brought from the Enclosure, and all
appeared TO be in excellent condition, judg-
ing them from the manner in which they re-
sisted capture after they had been dropped
from the mouth. Two or three instances
were noticed of large bull snakes being
held by the neck and twlning their bodies
around the legs of the dancers In one in
Stance the snake had so entwtned himself
around the performer that he was unable to
move for fear of falling. This predicament
caused great outbdrst of laughter, but it
looked anything but funny to the dancer.
Those who danced with the snakes, not
unfrequentlv had three or four in the
mouth at the same time, which, of all the
performance was the most repulsive. To
see these naked human beings going around
with the face completely hidden behind
mask OF twisting and squirming snakes was
enough to make the stoutest-hearted man
shudder with disgust, yet the other menu
bers of the tribe greeted these manifesto
tons with applause.
The applause of the spectators urged the
dancers to greater feats, and as the dance
proceeded the performance became NEST
horrible to behold. Some of the dancers
would take two lBrre rattlerS in the mouth
at the same time, and as they slowly swung
around the circle would chew on the living
snakes until, in many instances, the SER
penis would fall 10 the ground completely
bitten in two. One dancer, who appeared
TO be leader, had SIX snakes in his mouth
at one time, and the swinging ends of the
reptiles made gOrgon appearance of his
head as he whirled around the outer edge
of the circle.
This ceremony lasted two hours and
when the dance was over the participants
neiC tiloio!SLlS eAuduSl"u3 w me uuIlng
the dance they had been upheld by the
ecStatic condition the reaction was terrible,
and while there was no permanent injury
to the dancers it took several days Tor them
TO recuperate. This time was spent in
sleeping and drinking weak sort of broth
made from the snakes which had persisted
in the ceremony. During the dance there is a
peculiar luster of the body and eyes which
would indicated that the performers had
been medicated and PREPARED for the ordeal
through which they were about to pass. 1t
was supposed by some that the rattlesnakes |
had been rendered harmless by the ex- |
traction of their fangs, but to show that |
Such was not the case a dog was brought |
into the circle and was bitten by a snake |
La very short time the unfortunate animal |
was dead frcsQ the effects of the bite