The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-21

forefathers of the zunis. Mokis and Pu- eplos fought out their differences or met to peacefully adjust them.
 The replication of Battle Rock at the worlds fair overlooks the eneire main picture of the fair and thousands of visi- tors now resort to It to gain an idea of the aIchlleeturaI and other outward beauties ol the wondrous LousiaA-a purchase ex- position The Cliff Dweller descendants nave erected a theatre. primitive, it Is true but not the less attractive. some hhety feet behind Battle Rock and there every afternon and evening, exclusive of sunday they give a wonderful perform ance of the dances and cerimonials of Which they have long been famous in the annals of American ethnology.
 Just as at Oraibi and Wolpi Tn the painted oestert there has been for many years an annual ceremony called the snake dance, first seen, by the way, by white men in ls97 so these Indians ak the worlds fair dance the Snake dance, the Green Corn dance. the Kiote and Eagle reels and all their children above papoose age, of which there are many, take part in the exercises either as sing CTS or tom-tom beaters. Live snakes of the most poisonous varieties are used in the Snake dance and the reptiles are Vexed into almost ungoyernabe fury by the feather wands of the Snake dancers The dance ends with wild orgy in which to the thunderous beatings of the tom-toms and the weird chanting of the women and children, the dancers catch rp the wriggling reptiles from the boards of the stage and take them in their mouths. whirl the snakes about their heads in horrlfying festoons.
 In their own country the Zuni priests dance this Snake dance on or about the 20th day of August and only when rain Is needed. Recent special reports to the government at Washington are sufficient warrant of the fact that 1t always rains in Mokiland fifteen days after the priests liberate the reptiles used in this strange ly fascinating pagan ceremonial. Tray elers who have attended as many as ten of the Snake dances at Wolpi say that 1t Is of record that no priest has ever been bitten by a snake during the Snake dance. That these strange semi-savages are immune to the effect of the snake poison may well be imagined. Another explanation of their apparent safety may lie in the fact that the rattlesnake Is comparatively harmless when it lies un- coiled.
 The reptile can only use its fangs in striking, that is to say by springing from
 
 the Cliff Dwellers exhibit at the world 8 fair each snake dancer carries about his neck a little receptacle like an amulet in which a quick antidote for snake bites Is supposed to be kept
 Three hundred zuni, Mokd and Pueblo men, women and children are at the Cliff Dwellers exhibit at St. Louis and they have been aptly designated the eth nographlc center piece of the Louisiana purchase exposition. While every big ex- position or fair has It's contingent of na- tive tribes. the feature of the Cliff Dwell lers exhibit at St. Louis Is that never be- fore have the zunis. MolSis and Pueblos of historical Taos shown themselves oI their ceremonials away from Oraibi and Wolpi In the painted desert These natives are different from other North Americans in that they are cleaner-imb- ed, more doclle and altogether mors tractable Their peaceful life in fixed abodes extending as a distinct tribe over thousands of years may also account for i their fine appearance and admirable traits