The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-24
HOkI Snake Dance viii Occur
Next Month.
Survival of q Weird Pagan Ger
emOny or America.
A PRAYER FOR RAIN.
Santa Fe Runs Within as Miles
of PuebIOs.
Trip Overland With Wagons and
Tenting Equipment.

The story of the AIoki snake dance is
an old one, and yet it is one which
never lacks in fascination 1t IS one
of the rare survivals Of the pagan cere-
monies which characterized the an
Gent peoples of the American CONT
nent
Next month the snake dance occurs
in Arizona, in the pueblos of Mishon-
ginovi and Wolpi. It is given by the
Pueblo Indians
Here are a few interesting facts
about the snake dance 1t is given
every two years at the above named
pueblOs.
1t is a PRAYER for rain. It continues
for nine days. The public perform
ance Gn which live rattlesnakes are
handled1 occurs on the ninth or last
day, which is the time when the gen
era1 public are invited to be present.
although no objection IS maze 70 al
The province of Tusayan. or Moki
reservation comprises 1900 square
miles and is inhabited by ZUVJ In
dams, who are grouped in seven VII
lagos on three high mesas near the
southern border. WOlpi. the place oL
the gap" on the first mesa, where the
most interesting festivities are TO take
place is peopled by Indians who are
more progressive than the other tribes
and who are very friendly The dance
there is said to be better than the one
held shortly before at MishOnginoYl on
the second mesa.
1t is expected that the dance at Wolpi
will be given between August II and
%; the snake ceremony may cone as
early as August 20. Exact dates are not
announced by the snake priest until
sixteen days beforehand.
The flute ceremony al Oraibi. on the
third mesa, occurs about the same
time. This novel dance is an Ella bOrate
nd nv
equal to that with the snakes
The snake dance is an elaborate
prayer for rain, in which the reptiles
are gathered from the fields, lntruSte1
with the prayers of the people. and
then given their liberty to bear these
petitions to the divinities who can
bring the blessing of copious rains to
the parched and arid farms of the
HOpis It is also drama ton of
an ancient half-mythic, half historic
legend dealing with the origin and
migration of the two fraternities
which celebrate it. and by transmits
OF priests has become conventionalized
to a degree, and possibly the actors
themselves could not now explain the
significance Of every detail of the
ritual.
one thing which tends to make the
MOki ceremonies exclusive" is the
fact that it is difficult to reach the
pueblOs where the dances are given.
The nearest railway is 70 miles away.
This is the Santa Fe-Paeific. From
the railway the Journey is made in
wagons. There are no hotels and
those who go are obliged to carry
tents and provisions with them
In a pamphlet about the dance just
issued by the Santa Fe the following
suggestions to tourists are offered.
Wear thick-soled shoes; smoked
spectacles or eye-g glasses will afford
protection from the sun: hats should
be of straw and have a broad brim;
outing suits Of light colors are prefer
able; avoid dark-colored clothing,
which catches all the dust; carry along
waterproof wrap for emergencies;
the Undertaking should be of mod
crate weight
"A few simple medicines will be
handy in case of sickness. Indian
children love candy; provide yourself
with a supply. Bring your cam era. but
protect its contents from the intense
light OF the Arizona sunshine