The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-07

Of cottonwood boughs has been pre-
pared. Under 1t a cavity in the rock
Is covered by plank. In this cavity
the snakes have been deposited by the
snake priest. The snake, to the Moqui.
symbolizes the god Of water. The
lightning which precedes the rain Is the
snakes tail lashing the clouds. The
thunder Is the report Of the blow. The
snake is his mediator. and water In
that dry country being the greatest
good, as it produces for them vital re-
suits, they make the greatest efforts 10
propitiate the god of water. that ne
may send them rain.
For eight days before the dance re-
ligiouS exercises. preparatory 10 tne
snake dance are held in the estufa.
They are of a secret nature and few
white men have been admitted. The
dance is the closing ceremony of this
long prayer for the much-needed rain.
The members of the antelope order
rank next to the members Of the snake
der. and assist in the preliminaries OF
the snake dance. Six days before the
dance the snake men go down into the
plain and hunt for the rattlesnake.
Each hunter carries a bunch of eagle
feathers (bahoo) with which he tickles
the snake until it attempts TO run away,
snake near the head and thrusts 1t into
leathern bag. carried for the purpose.
These are carried to the estufa, care
fully washed and deposited in earthen
jars ready for the dance. For five
days previous to the dance the snake
dancers, having gathered in the estufa,
fast and purify themselves, drinking
copiously Of a decoction of herbs pre-
pared by the snake priest This rem
1arS than innprVipys IN ha cnnka moi
on. The preparation Is a secret and Is
generally believed by best informed
white men to be effective, as not unfre-
Quently the dancers are bitten without
serious results. 1t is called "mahQue-
ba." or virgin drink"
About half an hour before sunset the
dancers emerge from the estufa, filing
in order to the snake booth, where they
hold preliminary rite. dancing to q
rattle of gourds. In short time they
are followed by the snake order" the
two orders being distinguished by diff
ferences in paint and costume. After
some preliminary exercises and invoca-
tions, the SNAKE men," now being in
line, painted and decked with fur and
feathers, carrying rattles made of small
gourds in their hands. each having
rattle made of turtle shell tied onto
the calf Of his leg, at a signal march
around the dance ground shaking the
rattles. As they pass the booth every
man stamps on the plank under which
the snakes are in waiting. This indi-
Gates to the spirits that they are about
to present their prayers. Two little
boys not more than years old were
among the dancers. I imagine they
were hereditary dancers.
SNAKE BETWEEN TEETH.
The dancers now receive the snakes
from the hand OF the snake priest. The
dancer takes the snake between his
teeth, about two inches from it's head,
holding 1t firmly, so that the snake
cannot turn and strike his face. Some
times dancer held two small snakes,
their heads in opposite directions. One
dancer carried small snake entirely
In his mouth except his head. and car
ried it thus throughout the dance. One
large snake twisted itself so tightly
into Its captor's long hair that he re-
quired help to disentangle it. FREE
quently the dancers flung the snakes
from their mouths by quick jerk of
the head forward. When the liberated
snake would coil on the ground to
strike, dancer would strike it with an
eagles feather, which at once caused it
to try to escape. AS quick as it was
uncoiled and in retreat, the dancer
would quickly catch 1t in his hand,
grasping 1t near the head, take it
again in his mouth, and resume the
dance.
In all cases the utmost care seemed
to be used to catch the snake in the
same. manner and avoid being bitten.
l feel confident that the snakes were
not drugged nor their fangs removed,
as all exercised a prudent care in hand
ling them. One man was bitten on the
face, one OH the finger but l did not
learn Of serious results.
In about an hour from the beginning
the line Of dancers passed near the
| sacred stone" Each man dropped his
| snakes near the base, and over this
mass Of snakes cornmeal was freely
| sprinkled, while others with eagle
| feathers, kept the snakes together. At
signal each dancer seized several
snakes in his hands and ran past the
crowd down the mesa into the plain and
released the snakes. The dance was
ended. the prayer over, and all retired
to await the answer, much as Chris
tians do.
The Pening before we left the pueb-
10 thesehef called to bid US good by.
In imperfect English and by signs he
presented us a pipe. saying: You my
friend; Moqui like good friends. When
at home you smoke this pipe remember
Moqui chief" Becoming interested in
his efforts to talk, We secured an in
! terpreter and found his ideas We're
manly and dignified, becoming his DO
sition as chief. We duly appreciated
the natural eloquence of the untutored
savage and wished we could converse
in his native language. Our visit to
the Moquis had been a most pleasant
one. and we left our new-made friends
with much respect for their simple,
honest ways. Returning to Keam's
Canon. we spent the night again in
Captain keams' hospitable home.
INDIAN SCHOOLING.
Being only two miles from the gov.
ernment Indian school, located for the
Moquis, we decided to visit it on our
way home. Next morning we bade our
host adieu and started for home via
the Indian school. 1t being vacation
the school not in session, we only saw
the buildings and surroundings. which
were not calculated to inspire us with
confidence in the Indian work.
In 1891 the United States government
decided to educate the Moquis. They
must send their children to the school
The Moqui objected. He did not wish
the white man TO educate his child
tBear in mind the Moqui Indians are
all citizens of the United States by vir.
tue of the laws of Mexico and treaty
of Guadloupe Hidalgo 1851 AS the
agent had only ten soldiers. the CHIEF
told him to go or he would kill him
He went, and returned with about
eighty soldiers, when the chief said
You can take the children. | cannot
contend against so many. l did no
know there was so many soldiers IL
the world" So the children went L
school.
Near the school house is a most beau
tiful spring of pure water. This frs
caused Captain Keam to build his trad.