Semi=weekly graphic., 1899-07-26

a sensation with bare feet and their
 semi.nude bodies streaked with
 white paint; band of wbite on the
 chin from mouth to ear, rattles ot
 tortoise shell tied to the knee, em
 broidered kits of white cotton fas-
 tened around the loins, necklaces of
 shell aud turquoise, and fox skins
 hanging behind from the belt, these
 priests present a startling, though
 not unattractive appearance. Att
 the head of the file comes the Ante
 lope Chief bearing his tiponi or
 sacred badge across his left arm.
 Next comes the bearer of the medi-
 cine bowl. All the other priests
 carry a small rattle in either hand.
 With stately mien and looking to
 neither right DOT left, the Antelope
 priests pass four times around the
 plaza to the left, each sprinkling
 sacred meal and stamping vio,ently
 upon the plank in the ground in
 front of the Ksi. The hole in the
 middle of the plank is the opening
 to the underworld and the dancers stamp upon it 10 inform the spirits of their ancestors that a ceremony is in progress. When the circuit is
 made, the Antelope priests line up in front of the Kisi facing outward; there is a hush and the Snake priests enter.
 "The grand entry of the Snake priests is dramatic to the last de- gree. With majestic strides they hasten into the plaza, every attitude fuil of energy and fierce determined purpose. The costume of the priests of the sister society of =Antelopes is gay in comparison with that of the Snake priests. Their bodies rubbed with red paint. their chins blackened and outlined with a white stripe, their dark red kits and moceasins, their barbarle ornaments, give the Snake priests a most somber and appearance. Around the plaza, by wider circuit than the they go striking the plank with the foot and ferceIy eap;ng upon it with w1d gestures. Four times the circuit is made; then ] line is formed facing the line of he Artelopes, who cease shaking .heir rattles, which simulate the warning noteof the rattlesnake. A moments pause and tbe rattIes be- gin again and deep humming chant accompanies them The priests sway from side to side, sweeping their eagle-feather snake Whlps ! towards the ground; the song grows
 louder and the lines sway backward ! and forward toward each other like two long, undulating serpents.
 All Ut once 5be Snake line breaks up into groups of thu ee, composed [ of the carrier and two attendants. The song becomes more animated | and the groups dance, or rather bop, around iu q circle in front of the Ksi, one attendant (the hug ger9 placing bis arm over the shouI- | der of the carrier and the other (the gatbererD walking behind. In all this stir and excitement it has been rather difficult to see why the carrier dropped on his kneesg in front of the Klsl; moment later he is seen to rise with a squirming snake, which he places midway in bis mouth, aud the trio dance around the circle followed by ooher uios bearing hideous snakes. The 'hugger' waves his feather wand be- fore the snake to attract its atten- ton, but the reptile inQuringly thrusts it's head against the ear rier's' breast aud cheeks and twists its body into knots and coils. On come the demoaiaeal groups. to music now deep and resonant and i now rising to a frenzied pitch, ac- companiel by the unceasipg sibilant rattles of the Antelope charms. Four times around and the carrier opens hls mouth and drops the snake to the ground, aud the : 10 thnnn,, ln,.trnnslr. ,,inL.s it nn