The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-05
THE f ii11jlR SNAKE DAN(E.
Biennial Ceremony Held at walapai,
Arizona

Arizona.
Eolhrcok, Ariz.-The Moqui Indians to
Gay began int biennial celebration OF the
Snake dance at the pueblo Of Walapai,
situated on their reservation. some "
miles north of here The dance TINS year
has attracted 4 large gathering Of sight
Eeers and scientific men 10 witness tne
most remarkable ceremony yet performed
by any of the North american savage
The dance s. held Tor two DAYS On
p smooth SlatfoFm on the edge OF the
hig.4 mesa on Which the pueblo Is located.
The space fs rectangular, and near one
end stAnds the SACRED snake rochs ~ 1,o mr.
regular shaped pillar OF sandstone aooue
% feet high. About midway 81 the coul :
and close to The houses has been erected
the ''kisi. which consists OF coNQ@IlNo ga
bonghs set on the ground ana tled To-
sz4ther al the top in the form OF conc,
with = piece or cAnvas num- oyer an
opening in the front Immediately N
front OF this booth IS a tWo-lncn b2atd
fitted over a hollow IN the ground DUR
ing the afternoon two large bags MED
with snakes are put into the "kisl by che
snake priest.
a54e, the onening ceremonies and the
entry of Che dancers. Mho come on IN
f5airs there is z rush for the klsi and
q pair of dancers start around the snake
rock one of them with an immense snake
hold firmly between his teeth. hls c oin-
panion with one arm about MIN, strokes
the snake with his feathers, keeplnEl me
head away from the others lace as mucn
as possible. The two men move along
with bowed neads. and the carrier re
peats q prayer TO the snake IN mas monShs
throwing II 10 the ground with a JERK OF
mis- head when the prayer Is hn1shed- \
third man who has followed ieisureiy oe-
hind the two, now becomes al ACTIVITY,
and captures the angry snake lhdt mas
been liberated If the snake coils the
dancer tickles il with his bunch OIL fedth-
ers until It starts 10 glide away. when
he reaches forward ana graspS II quickly
near the head All he captures are car
RED IN his hand during the rest o. the
dance. As they pass around the sllske
lock The woInt grouped Shere Spruce Llltet
the dancers VII. meal, all the time mul.
fering ineantatiev.s. Each time the kiSl
IS passed. more snakes are brought out,
and often one man viii have three or four
in his mouth at once.
Al last me snakes are all out Of the
''kisi," and the mad medley is over AS
The chart dies away the chaei " Nhe al
telOpe5 advances 10 The side Of uae snake
rock. and hastily draws a circle OF meal,
which represents the earth. The cardinal
points are marked by two dIaEeterS or
The circle, and into this an the snakes are
thrown. They are sprinl1led with sacred
meal and then eIeh dancer quickly
snatcheg a handful from uhe Wrigghng
mass. and starts at full speed down one
of THE many trails which wind along The
side of the mesa Down. down they so.
out in all directions into the valley, TO
turn loose these mediators between them
and their rain god.
The snakes used are nearly all rattlers,
caught fresh from the de<S.t, and moth
ing IS done 20 them TO remove thu fangs
or poison. For nine days prior TO the
oance the participants eg< little, but take
freely of a brew which they behave 10 be
an antidUre for snake poison. The secret
of this anuidote is known only 10 the
snake chief and one old woman White
men have SO far. been uS,ble 10 discover
II. One scientist who has made a
thorough study of the tribe. is of The
opinion that the antidote has no efficacy,
but that the tight grip Kept on the snake
prevents the muscular aeSsion required 70
inject she poison.
After the dance each dancer takes q
violent emetic, and after the effects OF
this subSide they Join in q feast with no
apparent i'll effects There is llutle doub
that they are actually lGtuen many times
during the dance.
The origin of this religious rite is learn
ed Through a tradition which has been
handed down from endless generations.
as the story goes. a noted Moqui chief
mad seven sons, one Of whom eYinced a
rowing disposition and left the tribe 20
see the world, \ long time eIapseS before
Ia returned Is his native pueblo, but with
this home coming le brought q feautiful
bride to preside over his rooms. L great
feast WAS prepared and general rejoicing
throughout the tribe was the order. as
the prodigal son was q faV0rite and the
next IN line 10 The chieftai1ship.
In the course OF time an heir to the
family was anticipated. and the event
was looked forward TO with great interest
Imagine the horror and supreme DISGUST
Of the family and the whole tribe. IN fact.
when aJle BIRTH took place instead IF a
human lyaby, there was a mass of wris-
CLING snakes for the fond father to curse
and care for
A frenzy of rage seized the tribe and in
their anger they eGterminEted the snakes
and so the tradition goes destroyed a
savior or protector of the tribe. which
prophets had foretold would come to earth
as an agent Of the Rain god, and by It's
presence insure good crops to the Moqui'f
ever after
In his anger at the reception given 10
his mediator the god OF rain turned his
back on the ungrateful tribe of the Mo-
Quis. and Tor seven years no rain quenched
their 9arched and thirsty fields and d
great famine cursed the tribe. To pro-
pttlafe his So5ship the snake dance was
ordered, and every two years Is gone
through with great religious ceremony.
The observance of this rite takes effect
in August, ard is chosen at time when
the moon casts the shadow of a certain
mountain pax upon a particular spot