Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-02-07

suuuuvs rur poison ana rnnkss mo pnsre-s7
wisor and enables him TO SEQ visious-per-
baps snakes. With the Yuma Apaches
the snake IL an object Of ycneration, espe-
clally tho rattler ard tho ella monster, as
they arc the more yenomous and deadly.
A snake worship dance IL no doubt the
most weird, horrifying and gIowsome
spectacle person ever witnessed. In fact,
very few white people have witnessed
them. About three days before the snnkc
worship the medicine men go out into the
desert and along the banks OF the ella
river on still hunt for snnkca When tho
reptile Is seen ono OF tho medicine men
stcalthily approaches, and with bunch
Of eagle feathers tied to stick about a
foot long begins to tickle tho snake,
which at once begins to unlimber and
crawl away. Then, with his thumb and
foroflngcr, he scizes the reptile by the back
OF tho neck and thrnsts 10 into a leather
sack. When enough squirming beauties
have been caught--l5 or 20, according 70
the number OF medicine men who arc TO
participate in the dance worship--tho
snakes are carried TO the village estula
(houso Of worship and turned loose. The
medicine men fast three days, as also do
the snakes.
"Tho medicine men have drunk literally
Of shake root tea and washed their bodies
with nntlpoison decootions, laying 1t on
like some ladies paint their faces, an inch
thick. On the night before the dance the
snakes are plaented BY being sprinklcd
with oornmoal Cornnoeal is tho Indians
incense, and rho sprlnklng Ia supposed to
allay the snakes venom and power.
About shutdown tho dancers flo out Of
tho estufa, whoro they have been fasting
and dancing The Indi3o canoes when he
prays. Their bodies are = Ia no waist.
a short bucltskln garfDen, : IDS from
tho waist to tho knee. Their legs and feet
are bare, tho body is painted white and
crimson, and the customary fuxskin hangs
fIom thu waist. The master OF ceremonies
dumps down several sacks Of snakes in
front OF tho limo OF dancers. Two mon
dance with one snake.
"Whon tie reptiles have been turned
loose, they begin to wrlthe and wrlggle
and crawl around, and the spectators Mt
once become nervous, much TO the amuse-
mont OF tho medicine men. Tho chief
medicine man showers some cornmeal
upon the writhlng mass OF reptiles, and
then each dancer In the front row seizes a
reptile just back Of Its head, go that 1t
cannot turn around and blto. From his
hand he duftly transfers tho hold to his
mouth, holding the snake between his
teeth, as before.
Tho medicine man In his roar now be-
gins TO cham the snake with his magic
wand Of eagle feathers, He strokes Lnd
soOthes and tioklos' the reptile until no
completely unooiis and perhaps gives up
all intention OF biting. Tho first medicine
man runs around the ring holding this
snake in his mouth while the other keeps
step with him, charming the reptile with
tho feather strokes The other medicine
mon follow until there arc oight or ten
couples dancing with snukos.
THE set lasts about 20 minutes, and
tho leader of tho FIRST couple stops, glvos
his head quick turn to tho right and
bounds backward. This throws tho snake
safely to the ground. The others do tho
Same md retro from tho ring amid tho
grunts Of hobo Of the horTUr stricken ln-
dim spectators, That Is tho Indian method
Of applause and approval. Tho medicine
men then retire to purify themselves with
their medicines. In soma instances, it is
reported, medicine men havo boon bitton,
but no donths have occurred.
Tho ella monster was known to the
Arnohos OF the desert long before the
spaninrds came, but neither they nor the
Americans have learned the secret of pro.
pltiating him or OF making themselves
snake bite proof New York World