Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-08-03
THE M0oUi A DANCE.
Not q Safe Place for visitors THIS Year =
Danger From Smallpox Exists.

WV
Danger From Smallpox Exists.
The annual snake or rain dance Of the
Moqui Indians will not be the affair this
year that 1t has been In the past. The
rsvages Of the smallpox during the
winter months made sad the heart OF
the Moqui, and the Tucssyan provinces
are still mourning the loss Of many Of
the most prominent OF their snake
men,"
IL IL said By those familiar with the
tribe that the number OF deaths since
February l exceeded 300. The ravsges
OF the disease was the greatest at the
towns of Wolpi and Mi-Shong-Ws, and
the deaths were 40 numerous that the
bodies OF the dead could not be buried
and they we're thrown into a creyice In
the rocks near the villages. The In'
disns expected 20 give them burial
after the passing Of the scourge. The
crevice being narrow and about fifty
feet deep, IL IL not known how the bodies
were 10 be recovered. And the Indian
authorities, who attempted TO disinfect
the villages after the epidemic, thought
IL the wiser plan 10 cremate the dead,
and a large amount OF coal oil was used
to accomplish this purely sanitary
measure. The task OF disinfecting the
homes OF the Moquis was a herculesn
one. and at the best could be but imper.
fectly done. There are 30 many houses,
and being built one above the other In
an irregular manner, 30 that the en-
frances are known only to thoss who are
familiar with them.
The work Of disinfecting the majority
OF the houses was lett to two men, who
performed the work within two days,
when IL should have taken that many
months to do the work perfectly. IN
many instances when the Moqni knew
his home was to be disinfected all the
effects would BIZ removed and hidden I'M
til after the officials left. when they were
returned to their former places. ~ the
articles were those which the business
sense Of the Indian led him to believe
would be bought by visitors to the snake
dance In Augu I, neither knowing nor
caring about the danger that the visitor
would be exposed to In the purchase Of
any OF the articles.
While everything is being done to pre-
vent another outbreak Of the smallpox In
the villages, II would surprise no one
familiar with the ways OF the Indian
should another epidemic occur at any
time.
At Oraibi. the most %populous OF the
villages. but three deaths occurred. II be-
ing twenty miles from Wolpi, and the
vigilance Of the government authorities
prevented the spread Of the disease with
in the town. Every Indian, old or young,
In the place was promptly vsccinated'
Three hundred Of them submitted to the
operation In n day.
There will be no snake dance at 0rsibi
this year. but at the towns OF WOlpi and
Mi-shong-ws the ceremony will be
observed. Owing to the many deaths
which have occurred among the mem
bers Of the order, the ceremony will be
conducted by the surviving members,
assisted by such Younger members
Of the tribe ~ the older ones may
select. and the event will not be
conducted In such an elaborate manner
as In the past.
Notwithstanding the fact that II will
be dangerous to visit tho village Of
Wolpi. and those adjoining, II Is prob
able there will be large number OF Wis
itors. Who will take the risk OF taking
the smallpox and conveying 1t to their
homes, rather than miss this weird Moqui
ceremony.
Although II Ia considerable money In
the hands OF the people OF northern Ari-
iona to have the visitors to the snake
dance. the suggestion Ia made to those
who are intending to visit the Moqui
villages In August this year that II would
be safer for them to defer their visit I'M
til another year.-CocOnino Sun.
U-ll ~