The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-30
NEAPoL1s MINNESOTA, MORNING DECEMBER 80 1905

snake deity Baa akongua the omnprsent ruler Of the
earth, according to the Hopi belief Miles away on the
plain snake priest has been stody sitting in his ban
ket since midnight waiting for the dawn,
when he will be joined by the flower of the young
a long prayer-stck, and ceremonial wheel. To the
feetest known among the Of contestants
them to the crest of the mesa there to deliver his trust
to the chief priest of the Antelope order who will await
his coming at the sacred kiva But should he be out
stripped in the he must instantly resign his charge
to the successful rival who in fact, snatches the
b!ems from the tagging he flies past. Having
yielded the treasures the priest lines up the ithembed
naked entrants nvokes and the sunrise race to
the is begun ~. -. ... = =:
Meantime, twenty of the youths of the tribe have de-
scended to the fields below bear away the corn
stalks each possibly carry AS the tnkle of the bells
worn by the racers breaks on the ear, there comes
mighty shout from the direction Of the trail and the
cornbearers are seen staggering upward with their bur-
dens Lean, 1.-the naked youngsters Of from 10 to 16,
behind the stalks they hug closely, and all
rest in the crest of the mesa their sharp young
eyes keen-set for the first sight of the runners
Suddenly of them who stands near Paul breaks
out with exultant cry Of ''I-yam-op I-yam-o
p H. no;ct. 1h s2oss somng ThsXrs And
is unfolded that looks not unlike moving fencerai
blance but the oncomng line shape the ex
element among the Moquis increases and the partisan
friends of the give and take odds the possible
result Necklaces blankets, silver wrisets, and
silver dollars waged the well the men
catching the spirit and betting their copper and silver
bracelets on the outcome. -. ...... s~*-&
d
in advance of his close trailing rivals compact
why Moqu of perhaps two and twenty his head thrown
sghty pack, his right hand graspng the sacred Symbols
his left clinched tight his glstening brown body
See him mount the precipitous trail! No Rocky Noun
tain goat ever had frmer footing perfect Of
wind Despite his twentymile run he is as fresh as
young kid and the red soil scarcely disturbed
by his light tread Once he looks back the onrush-
Instant and with renewed effort he bends forward
Now he disappears from sight around turn in the trail
and for second the INITIATED fear he NAV have
footing the ks he-
low -
But no! The next moment he reappears in all his
proud and savage spendor the of victory on his
face the keen sparkle Of realized ambition In
AS his black name above the edge of the mesa
of approval mighty shout sweeps across the crest
of the cliff and the hall all hall to the victorious racer
is voiced from thrice hundred throats.
Not for moment does the winner tarry, however,
"A quick inclination of his head he degns in acknowl-
edgment of the cheering, but his sturdy bear him
pueblo where deii7er his charge to the chief
priest of the order. -rr -.--
While he humbly waits the appearance of the priest
an interesting spectacle takes place the the
mesa south of the village It is called the 'wranging
for the conn., and is participated in by the score Of
youths bearing the green stalks and an equal number of
and madens of the tribe The latter wrest
from the clutch Of the youngsters the fruits the field
and not while stalk remains the hands of youth
are they to desist in their efforts --.:E
On come the lads five abreast and four deep. They
sing song Of goodnatured Defiance and shake their
green burdens exutngy their waiting
sisters and mothers The are crouched
low against the outer wall OF donkey corral straning
like hounds in leash At signal from an attendant
priest the girls throw off their blankets with shrl
cheer dart forward followed by women
melee is on. . .sr- .~~@.>
This way and that way the youths dodge in the at
tempt to eude their pursuers All the tricks of doubling
practice amid the mingled bowls of delight and dersion
OF the entire village Now overgrown lad slips Of
dares her to take It from him. 'A stalk safe
All! his glee is short-lived. From behind matron-
perhaps his motherthrow herself him. and tho he
wrthes and twists and squirms he does not escape
his captor sezes him by the long hair and he FALLS
snatches the corn-stak and bears it off in triumph
Even Samson and Absalom met their fate by rea-
Of their locks these gay young Moqus fall
TINS to the dusky Delahs because Of their long hair
With their slim; naked bodies they may slip in and out
Of the circle of that reach for the prize as the
fun heightens the to the work seem to
take vicious delight in yankng the youngsters to their
knees by tug at their snaky tresses There no
ing this clutch and down they in heap the rocks