The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-31
MOQ SNAKE DANCE.
WEIRD INDIAN CEREMONIAL IN
WHICH REPTILES LEAD.
Witnessed In WaIpi, ArizOna-Prof.
j. w. FevSkes Describes the Grue-
some ceedings--Initiated as An
tsAnfelnne.t,

some eedings-Initfated as An
"AntelOpe."
From the Washington Star.
Prof. J. Walter Fewkes of the bureau OF
ethnology, while making an archaeological
tour in Arizona, made a detour which in
cluded the two towns of the Moki In
dians, Walpi and Mishonovi, where the
latter part of August the celebrated snake
dance Of that place-the weirdest, most
grewsome and altogether horrible relig-
ious ceremonial of any people of an coun-
try-was held, and is held annually.
Those who have Witnessed the dance say
that the memory of it haunts their slum-
bers, and the ceremonies in which the rep
tiles were included came vividly before
their minds vision for weeks, aye,
months afterward. Writhing reptiles,
twiuing themselves about the figures of
part naked saVages, or held in the mouth,
sticking out TO right and left like mus
taches of fends, or the DEVILS own imps,
kissing and rafting vainly in impotent
rage, the low chant of the Indians, rising
from a crescendo to the highest pitch of
frenzy, the fascinating yet loathsome Gid
ing and swaying of the priests taking part,
present a spectacle which remained.
The ordinary spectator at the Walpi
snake dance. and there were about 200 of
the last from all parts of the country. did
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 as the pro-
ceedings of a Masonic lodge. The profess
sor is one of the Mokis. He has been
initiated into the "Order of the Antelope"
whose members participate in the ceremo-
malls with the regular SNAKE" priests. He
was thus admitted into all the secret bust
ness of both orders. why can l not
become a snake priest as well as an An
telope2' Prof. Fewkes asked the snake
chief whom he called brother, and who is
a brother in the strange bond which binds
the whites who have been acknowledged
brethren to the Indians.
Ko-Pe-Li 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 are 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"
The snake dance" Prof. Fewkes said
to the Star reporter, lis a 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 middle of August The Moks claim
that the snakes are elder brothers and
treat them with the greatest considera-
ton. They have tradition that in olden
times there was a snake woman mar
ried by chief of the Moki tribe. He took
her home to his people and endeaVored to
make them reconciled to her. Everything
went well until the first children were
born. They had the form of snakes and
bit the other children, until the whole fam
lily was forced to migrate by the rest of
the tribe. They founded the two towns
which the Mokis now inhabit. The suisse
quent children of the pair were human
and were the ancestors of the present Mo-
kis. On this they claim relationship with
the snakes. When they get through with
the ceremonies in which the reptiles take
part, they release them again after pray
er repeated TO them to make the gods give
a good corn crop and send plenty of rain.
-Four days before what is known as the
snake washing takes place, the snakes
are hunted-the first day from the north
part OF the HelQS, 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.
'"rhis 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 10 by % feet in extent The snakes,
as they are gathered and put into Jars,
are placed in this kiva. Entrance into
it, by the way, is by means of a laddet
leading from a hatchway on the plaza
The kiva contains fireplace in the mid
die of the room and an elaborate altar at
the west end The Jars are placed at the
east end. Near them 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 Ante.
lope order. who simply watch the pro-
ceedings. About fffty-two of the snake
members were present at the Walpi snake
washing. These were stripped and wore
only a littel breech clout their bodies
being painted red with iron oxide Each