Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-24
M0QUI SNAKE-DANCE
STRANGE SCENES WITNESSED At AN
INDIAN CelEBRATiON.
Painted Braves Run Long Races aud Then
Dance While Holding Live Snakes
with Their Teeth.

A correspondent OK the San rTancisco
Erdmm,r gives that paper an account OF
the snake-dance Of the Moqui Indians in
Arizona "a he saw il August 2ist at Walk.
AT daybreak," he says. one of the cher
med cne-men OF the tribe climbed on
high building IN the village and addressed
the young men Of tho tribe in q long
speech. He called upon them TO go TO one
OF the principal aad most fruitful Of tho
springs belonging TO the tribe. and about
four or FIVE miles away, 10 oring IN tho
PRAYER embiem-litsle punches OF feathers
which the Mo4uis always leave sticking IN
close 10 the edge Ot springs or TANKS where
they water.
This proclamation is a form which Is
always gone through on the morning on
the snake lance. and ali the youn. men OF
tue tribe turn out and have u race from
the spring to the village carrying the en-
blem with them.
"'lhe race Wa grand affair. Imagine
a string of about n.tv Indians. hthe.
strong. and fleet OF limb, tearing acros.
the rough valleys tor about 1--WE miles. ana
then finishing up by runuin. ~ the steep
trails over the side OF the mesa. ana so
right into the village.
These Moquls are probably the hnest
tONH-ilt-ltiiEt lANilrI- AZ tiA' bC'h
and raised AZ an attitude OF COCO feet
above the sea level. their wind IL ever
lasting, and they are accustomed TO take
long trots across country from infancy al
most.
he man who won the race was fine
looking Young fellow of about twenty
two. and he came m IN IA long. swinging
trot through the village street after having
lust run w "A steep and rough trail wind
Ing around the point %; the mesa. whirh
Il over 400 feet high. The fourth III the
race was boy OF about twe.ye wears. who
did not seem Ia any way bothered by his
long run.
TIE sNAKE-DANCR.
"rhe lunches of feathers were duly de-
lyered 10 the prieSis or medlcine-Inen.
who bless them before sending them back
again t. be placed round the springs.
Meanwhile, down under ground III the
khlyas' or sac.el dens or temples. prepa-
ratious were being made ior the snake
dance. The snake warrior had iastedal tne
div. taking only cOplOus draughts OF 'he
uccoction breaed by the mead priest ahi
prl.stess of the snake order As an antldote
t. the rite OF the rattlesnake. IL Is truly
an autidote. too. and although they are
often bitten about the face. hands. and
arms by the angry reptiles. little or no III
effects follow. The dance taxes place III
M open space in che village. and small
Iogauda or bower of cottonwood limos Is
constructed Just opposite TO piece or
heavy plank having IA small round mole IN
II, which = let III flush with the lever OF
the ground.
"At last. all preparations having been
made II signal Is gwen and the antelope
warriors ,members of "A secret society or
guild somewhat akin To the Masonic or
other orders among civilized people ME
slowly out, the leading warrlOr sprlnhllng
water with feather from bowl when no
carries in his hand. Each man ~ be walks
past the little cottonwood bower stamps
heavily on the plank. sprlnkles nttte
meal from his hand upon the ground.
and rattles vigorously with little
ratio which he carries. This slow.
measured tramp Is kept up for sew
eral times around the open space, the
stamping, &C., being repeated every time
they pass over the plank. Then they draw
themselves up IN line along one side OF
the opening. shout Is heard, and the
snake warriors come rushing out. Instead
OF coming with the slow, measured step OF
the antelope warriors, these latter rush
along almost on run. Headed 10y man
carrying n bow. punches Of feathers, ana a
pee uliarly-shaped piece OF board on tue
end Of leather thong VIII CHI he hirls
they 20 quietly two or three times around
the opening. finally drawing thenselye:
up ~ u line opposite TO the antelope war
rIOTs.
DETwErS THE TEETH.
" sort oil chant l. now sung, time being
kept by swaylng the body from side &
/ side and at the same time shaking th'
/ lutte rattles. This chant. intersperse,
with more stamping on the ground, II
/ kent up for some time, until at last one %
/ the an elOpe warriors he with the bow
! of wa'er-steps up TO the little bower
/ sprinkles some drops Of water IN front o
/ It, aud says something III low tone o
voice The snake warriors now spit NJ
/ into sets of three and begin fling past the
/ bower. The leading man Of the three now
/ stOOps down, dives under sheet
or blanket, which il hung across
the front of the cottonwood limbs. aud
comes out with snake held between hil
teeth. Inc snake isusually eripped aboui
| four Of five inches from the head, but w
| noticed some being held amidships. ol
| almost by the tail. The squire, or secono
/ man # the tho, now puts one arm aroun'
[ the neck OF ms principal. and with little
! bunch of eagle feathers. he coninenclu.
! ficklug at the head of the squlrmy snake
to prevent il from biting the face OF tn
man who holds il. The third man dance
/ along behind. ready, when the principa
/ dancer gets tired of gripping tine snak
/ hetweeu his teeth and tnrows 1t down, &
catch 1t up deity OF the ground and han'
/ II over to one OF the row or antelope war
rlors.
The operation of diving under tn
blanket and dancing around with IN
snakes is repeated by each separate ITO
and those who have thrown snakes dowi
at
space is covered by men biting snakes
men dropping snakes. and men picking
w snakes, and tho scene Is one OF tat
| widest confusion.
WONDERFULLY PAINTED.
THE snake warriors are fearfnlly an
wonderfully painted and decorated withal
| tho head being adorned with bunch O
! feathers, the upper part of the face bein
| painted black, the chm white. aud tn
| body covered with brown Ochre or som
such substance. The arms and the leg
| below the knees ARE dautcd with some vel
low earth or another, wnitc rings are worl
on the arms. and strings Of coral and tur
uuoiso beads or Of bears claws around tn
| nccks aud shoulders. belt OF some KIM
j. also worn, and short robe or painte
blanket. with various Masonlc-lookin
embems thereon. around the Ions. Alto
gether. the general appearance Is -omethin
wonderful and enough 10 scare the herces
rattlesnake into good behavior.
AT length. all the snakes being t,
nausted, au ancient medicine-man come
forward and sprinkles a circle of corn
meal on the ground. with lines crossing /
at right angles. A signal Is then gwen an
the antelope warriors rush forward an
throw down their squirming handouts q
snakes into the centre of the circle, wher
Lao. tst
sGuaws now step forward. carrying sma
baskets or piatters OF meal. which the
sprinkle over the heap. Another s!gnal
given and all the warriors rush foraar
and grab for hsndfuls of snakes: wit
which they tear of down over the edges &
the mesa toward the tour cardinal point
and turn them loose.
This ends the snake-dance, and the ds
ends up with Ia grand feast. for which tn
squaws have been making prepsra,lo ns fo
days before, baking various kindsof bread
and cakes"