The herald., 1893-09-05
eagle feather was brought into requisi-

eagle feather was brought into requisi-
ticn.
The dancers marched around the
court at least dozen times, and each
time the teepe was passed the braves
would 60 in and get more snakes. This
kept up until the supply was exhausted.
By the time this stage OF affairs was
reached some OF the dancers had as
many ae four snakes between their teeth,
while each hand held several OF the
twisting, coiling serpents.
The sight was indescrbably repulsive
to . white person, but to the Indians 1t
was evidently serious matter. Occa-
Hionally snake would drop from the
dancers mouth, when his assistant
would pick it up and carry it in bis
hand. A number of the snakes would
fall about the same time aud some Of
them would escape to the center of the
court, but they were not allowed to
reach the spectators. As demonstrat-
ing that the snakes had not lost their
fangs, 1t was observed that when one of
the escaped rattlers had succeeded in
coiling himself considerable strategy
was used in effecting his recapture.
One OF the features of the dance was
the meal throwing. Some eight or ten
squaws and virgins stood in group at
one side of the court with wicker bask-
cts filed with meal, and as the dancers
passed them they would scatter meal
over them. After the dancers had cir
cled the court perhaps dozen times the
squaws and virgins emptisd the meal re-
naming in the baskets onto the ground.
As the dancers passed they threw the
snakes on the meal, which soon became
writhing, inextricable mass. AS soon
as all the dancers had deposited their
repulsive burden on the heap, each took
several of the serpeauts and ran down
the precipitous sides of the mesa toward
the valley, where the snakes were turn
ed loose. This race down the sides OF
the plateau WAS one OF the most remark
able features Of the days strange pro-
ceedings. They literally ran down the
mountain side, where it would appear
that not even goat could secure foot
hold. As illustrating the speed with
which they made this race it may be
noted that the one longest in returning
was gone but twenty minutes. s-
While the dancers were on this errand
the equaws prepared considerable
quantity OF herb tea, which they carried
to the rear OF the village in all kinda OF
vessels. When the dancers returned
from the valley they doffed their finery
and retired to the place where the tea
had been placed. The dancers seemed
very eager to reach this tea, and il was
observed that it induced vomiting in
about 80 seconds. 1t is supposed that
this herbal decoction overcomes : the
effect OF the snake poison. At least it
is known that number of the dancers
were bitten by rattlesnakes they were
handling, and the tea ia the only medi-
cation they were observed to take. The
Indians, however, fortify their systems
against the deadly virus by long sys-
tenn OF medication with herbal remedies.
No one has ever been able to learn,
though, the nature Of this wonderful
specific of the Moquis. 1t is not inialli-
BILE, however, as deaths have frequently
resulted from snake bites sustained at
these dances. as
At the conclusion OF the dance royal
feast was INDUCED in, which lasted
until midnight, the entire tribe particle
pating,