Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-20
Weird Indian Ceremonial in Which
Reptiles Had a Leading Part.
WITNESSED IN WALPI, ARIZONA
Prof. J. w. Fewkes Describes the
Gruesome Proceedings.
INITIATED AS N"ANTELoPE',

Prof ]. Walter FewkeS of the bureau OF
ethnology, while making an archaeological
tour in Arizona, made detour which in
cluded the two towns of the Moki In
dams, Walpi and Mishonovi where the lat
ter part of August the celebrated snake
dance of that race-the weirdest. most
gruesome and altogether horrible religious
ceremonial of any people of an country
was held, and is held annually.
Those who have witnessed the dance say
that the memory of it haunts their SUM
bers, and the ceremonies in which the rep
tiles were included came wildly before
their minds vision for weeks, aye
months, afterward. Writing reptiles
twining themselves about the figures Of
part naked savages, or held in the mouth
sticking out to right and left like mus
taches of fends, CT the devils own imps
Kissing and rafting va:nly in impotent
| rage, the low chant of the Indians, rising
from crescendo to the highest pitch of
frenzy, the fascinating yet loathsome
gliding and Swaying of the priests taking
part, present spectacle which remained.
The ordinary spectator at the Walpi
snake dance, and there were about 2Oo at
the last, from all parts of the country,
cid not have the opportunity, as did Prof
Fewkes, to see the whole nine days cere-
monial. Only two days are in any way
public. The rest IS as sacred the pro-
ceedings of a Masonic lodge. The profess
sor is one of the Mokis He has been in
itiated into the Order of the Antelope
whose members participate in the cere-
monials with the regular snake priests
He was thus admitted into all the secret
business of both orders. why can l not
become snake priest as well an An
telope?" Prof. Fewkes asked the snake
chief whom he called brother. and who
is a brother in the strange bond which
binds the whites who nave been acknowl-
ado lref tn, fhn nd;
ko-Pe-L!, the priest, hesitated, and
hung his head for a moment. He then
looked Prof. Fewkes straight in the eye.
"Na-Kivi-Pi," he answered, addressing
the professor by his Indian name, you
are white. The Great Father made you so,
but your heart is Indian. Being white,
there some things in the initiation into
the snake brotherhood you would not like.
No white man would do them. Brother, be
content to remain an Antelope. Do not
strive to learn more"
Tradition of the Tribe.
1.-THE snake Dance" Prof. Fewkes said
to The Star reporter is religious cere-
mony intended to propitiate the gods so
that the growth of the corn will be has
tened and the main object is to bring rain.
The dance always happens about the mid
die of August. The Mokis claim that the
snakes are elder brothers and treat them
with the greatest consideration. They have
a tradition that in olden times there was
a snake woman married by chief of the
Moki tribe He took her home to his peo-
pie and endeavored to make them recon-
ciled to her. Everything went well until
the first children were horn. They had the
form of snakes and bit the other children,
until the whole family was forced to mi
crate by the rest of the tribe They found
ed the two towns which the Mokis now in
habit The subsequent children of the pair
were human and were the ancestors of the
present Mckis. On this they claim rela
tionship with the snakes. When they get
through with the ceremonies in which the
reptiles take part, they release them again
after prayer repeated to them to make
the gods give good corn crop and send
plenty of rain.
-Four days Aefore what is known as the
snake washing takes place, the snakes
are hunted-tke first day from the north
part OF the fields, on the second day from
the south, and on the other two days from
the east and west all the snakes found in
those directions being captured. They are
placed in large jars.
This snake washing is the weirdest part
of the ceremony. 1t takes place in what is
known as the kiva. chamber underneath
the plaza of the town. The chamber is
about fifteen by twenty-five feet in extent
The snakes, as they are gathered and put
into jars, are placed in this kiya. Entrance
into it, by the way, is by means of lad
der leading from hatchway on the plaza.
The kiva contains fireplace in the middle
of the room and an elaborate altar at the
west end. The jars are placed at the east
end. Near tLem stand the priests, at one
side of the room stand others, while at the
opposite side are the spectators, members
of the Snake order and Antelope order, who
simply watch the proceedings. About If
ty-two of the snake members were present
at the Walpi snake washing. These were
stripped and wore only little breech clout,
their bodies being painted red with iron
oxide. Each wore a little eagle feather in
his hair. Each of the snake
whip formed of two sticks tied together
with three eagle feathers tied to it. This
was used to beat back the snakes and dis
tract their attention.
Boy Bitten by a Reptile.
ct saw boy not more than ten wears
old running around in the kiva, with a
rattlesnake in his mouth the snake being
so big that it dragged on the ground. 1
saw another little Indian boy, who lad
just been initiated into the snake order
bitten by one of the reptiles. He was get
ting used to the business when the snake
turned on him and bit him In the forefin-
ger. This little fellow was not more than
five years of age, If that. The snake which
bit him fortunately was not one of the
poisonous kind. The child whimpered a lit
tie, but his father spoke word to him
and he stopped Immediately, as there is not
allowed to be a word spoken during the
proceedings In the kiva-
Washing the Reptiles.
1.-THE ceremonies were begun with a low
chant. Each Of the squatted men, who
were not taking part in the ceremonies,
held up their whips with the eagle feathers
and beat time. The priests, standing at
the jars, lifted the buckskin covering gen.
tly from the tops of the jars and suddenly
dashed their hands down in them. AS the
snakes were taken out the chant increased
in volume. The men passed the snakes to
the other priests near the middle of the
room, In front OF whom were bowls con-
tanning some decoction. These priests took
the snakes, holding them in their fists,
with the heads pointing upward, over the
bowl, keeping time with the snakes, mean
while. as the chant was sung. 1t raised
higher and higher until 1t resembled
yeritable war cry. At this point the priests
plunged the snakes into the water, then
threw, them across the room Oh the altar,
which was about three feet square. The
altar was covered with sand. II the snakes
fell of as they were thrown on the altar,
as sometimes happened, they would dart
across to the group of sQuatted men, but
were beatel. back by the whips, and their
attention distracted by having the eagle
feather dangling before them II one would
coil he would be beaten out Of 1t by a whip
until he would get straight, and then would