Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-01-05

w men Moqul dleS the body Is
placed in small crooks in the lime
stone, laid in order and covered with
rocks. In August Of the odd mum.
bered years is held the main dance
that at Wolpi, with preliminary cere.
monies at Michongnavi. The others
held in the even numbered years a,
Oraibi, the largest village at Shipaulov
and at Sechomovi, are side issues
There was time when the dance wal
considered too sacred for stranger eyes
Now, though the white man, the
pahona," undoubtedly is a nuisance
he is welcomed, for he buys baskets al
exorbitant prices and leaves much
silver behind. Unlike most of the
Southwestern tribes, the Moquis are
not afraid of the camera, though g
brown hand may claim pay before g
pose is taken.
The ceremony to which visitors are
admitted is the climax of eight days
OF worship of the gods of the elements
days that are mainly spent by the
elect in the subterranean lodge-rooms
There are said the prayers and intoned
the sixteen sacred chants OF the rit.
tual, around q mat.like altar bordered
with plume offerings to the several
deities.
The snakes, of several varieties
irrespective of venomous qualities
have been brought from afar afeld
and are kept in the "kiva" till the
first day. They are washed for puri
fication and are sprinkled with the
sacred meal of plenty. They are given
messages to take, and then are re.
moved to the "kisi," a brush arbor
above.
The public ceremony lacks only
twenty-five minutes, from the time the
dancers emerge from their " kivas" till
the snake priests are bounding away
toward the four compass points with
their writhing freight.
The story of one dance is the story
of every other. There are dances and
chants by the twin fraternities and
repeated marchings past the enake
"kisi" and over a plank that each
celebrant stamps vigorously with his
foot as he passes. Beneath the plank
is a small hole, only . few feet deep
which is devoutly supposed to lead to
the under world, where the sleepy
spirits are reused by the heavy tread
of tue worshipers.
Then the reptiles, fiat headed, vic.
ious rattlers. great, though harmless,
bullsnakes and garter snakes, are
snatched from the sack within the
"kisi" aud are carried about the little
square by the sacred rocks in the
mouths Of the leading priests. The
priests march four times about in or.
dered line, with staring eyes and
tensest gestures, each followed by q
subordinate with feather wand, with
which the snakes attention is ever
sought. Third comes another Indian,
whose duty it is to gather the snakes
in very sheaves when dropped by
his leader at the end OF the round.
At last the snakes, about four score
in number, have made the circuit
The gatherers throw their loads be-
meath the sacred rock. Here they are
sprinkled with the meal once more
and final prayer is said. Then the
snake priests rush in, in apparent after
recklessness, grasp snakes by the hand
full and dart out over the mesa, rush
ing down by paths no white would
dare to tread far out on the plain be.
yond, where the captives are released.
The runners, returning, are met BY
an old woman with bowls of some
emetic medicine, which appears to dc
its work in all thoroughness. Then
comes the fasting and the creates,
revelry OF the year.
The gods have been propitiated. and
all is we'll with the chosen people.