The herald., 1895-08-28
Pasadenans Visit the Wierd
Ceremony
YENOMOUS REPTILES USED
Daucers Wrap the Wriggling Snakes
About Their Bodies
Peview of Social Events for One Day-Brii-
liant Receptions, Intellectual Pastimes
and General News Items

PASADENA, Aug. 1.-THE party Of
Pasadenans composed of Mrs. 4. S. c.
Lowe, II. n. Rust, A. C. Nrooman and
J. C. Crandall who went over to Arizona
to witness the famous snake dance
of the Moqui Indians, returned last even
ing feeling very well repaid for making
the trip. The journey frum Flagstaff.
the nearest point Oh the railroad, was
made in a big lumber wagon for dis
tance of about ninety miles, and two and
a half days were consumed III making
the trip although the wagon was drawn
by four horses. OF course such trip
was tiresnme, but they felt they were
we'll repaid for undertaking it, and when
they arrived they found about sixty
other white people assembled TO witness
the strange sights, among them being
representatives OF scientific institutions
of England. Russia and also of the
Smithsonian at Washington.
This famous "snake dance occurs
only once in two years. and period OF
some days is spent in preparation for the
event, during which many dances take
place, all of minor importance cmpara-
tiveIy, and the Indians are gradually
worked up to the climax. This takes
place on high mesa, reached only by a
hard climb from the plains below, and
here surrounding the sacred rock, the
wierd performance begins at Il U CLOCK.
and is concluded before sundOwn, last.
ing but brief half horr. The dancers,
all of whom are males, are divided into
two classes-snake dancers and antelopes
and there were thiItytwO OF the former
and thirteen of the latter. The costumes
of the bucks are gorgeous and their
60 n 70
white and brown, sometimes black being
introduced. Tho movement of the dance
is vigorous and bewIldering, and within
the magic circle (within ten feet OF
which the spectators are grouped) large
number of live and venomous snakes are
let loose, about one-tnird of which are
5attlesnakes.
The snake dancers snatch each a hand
sul of these venemous reptiles and as they
v:hirl about in the giddy dance they take
toe snakes III their mouths. one man
sometimes holding several of them be-
tween his teeth. while in each hand he
g5asps several more of the writhin.,
Struggling reptiles. The 'antelopes"
leep the snakes from getting into the
zanks of the spectators, using whiplashes
,ot the purpose. and as the bowling saw
rcee whirl around, covered with the
squ;rming, wrigglng serpents. the scene
looks like vision of the internal regions
rrarJ. OF course some OF the mad dane
ers are always bitten by the venemous
rc3tilcs, but the Indians have a COM
ponEd which is certain cure, and which
Ihjy keep secret from the inquIsItive
Salefnce. Two or three of the braves
we're bitten on this occasion, one on the
cheek. another OH the arm. 1t is sup
po-eo that the Indians are acquainted
with some plant that is an antidote TO
the poison of the rattlers. Certain it is
that The venomous reptiles are in as good
co,2ll ton as ever for their deadly worK
n. III Dir fangs are not removed nor is
their power diminished in any way, and
except for the preparation made in the
Nay Of Delng supplied with an antidote.
no doubt some OF the saTages would pay
sudden visit to 1.-THE happy hunting
around" before the ceremonies are con-
cluded. The mesa upon which this wierd
: s;,ectacle takes place is several hundred
ieot above the surrounding country and
reached by a hard climb up steep cliff,
close upon the edge OF which the per-
formance takes place.