The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1909-07-22


this antidote have proved futile,
as the secret is guarded with re-
ligious fidelity, and the Indian
would lay down his life rather
than communicate the recipe for
snakebites to paleface. Ii a
white man is bitten by rattle
snake the Indians will not hest
tate to give him the antidOte, but
he must not inquire what it is
composed Of.
The Snake Dance.
The snake dance is performed
by the Moquis every two years,
and is resorted to as means OF
propitiating the Spirit of the
i Summer Rain to send abundant
showers to fructify the earth and
make the crops grow. The corn
is planted in the moist land OF
the mesa without previous prep
aration of the ground, for the
plow is unknown to the tribe,
and after 1T has grown to a GER
tain height and needs moistenlng
, from the clouds, preparations
are made for the grand snake
, dance. A deep and wide exca-
walton is made in the dirt floor
, of one of the largest houses IN
. the village, and the whole tribe
I 90 out to. hunt snakes. These
E they catch with their hands and
, bring them in twined around
f their necks, coiled in their bo-
;. SONS, or wrapped around their
o legs and arms. All kinds of
: snakes are captured-th RATHER,
d the viper, the moccasin, the blue
4 racer, the garter, the blacksnake,
q the green spotted-in fact, every
variety existing in the country.
- fThese to the number of several
n hundred are placed in the pit IN
q the floor and the mouth is cover
- led over with buffalo robe, hairy
h side down, to prevent the rep
q tiles from crawling out and eS-
.. Gaping Then Il certain number
of the old men dance around the
>. pit, chaating monotonous songs
# and calling upon the imprisoned
n 5serpents to- intercede with the
q. Spirit Of the clouds to send rain
q. upon the thirstiug eoFnGelds. A
is body of young men next form a
If circle aroued the pit and go thro
10 "a similar ceremony. Then come
ts the old women, who have a DIFF
j. Efesent chant. Then the young
o. married woH1eny then the boys,
w and finally the virgins with then
N hair done up in loops, and ther
o for few saoments d solemn 81
IA lence prevails, daring which tire
kissing Of the serpents and the
- shrill sound of their rattles aF(
~ heard under the buffalo robe
y These sounds are taken as favor
nj able tokens that the incarnation!
mo have BEEN successful and that ;
oe copious fall Of rain will follow
10 Then the robe is removed an(
the men and boys leap into thu
i pit and each one brings forth {
l,o snake, which he holds in hi
mouth. Sometimes man viii
emerge with two or three small
snaks in his mouth. AS eacl
man energies from the pit witt
his mouth full of snakes he run
at full speed down the almos
perpendicular side Of the mes
until he comes to the plain, an
he there gently releases his CAP
OS- tives which at once take to- tn
Ill grass and quickly disappear
to After the pit has BEEN emptie
yer the men examine the wounds; i
M their arms, breasts and faces
ats and if blood has been drawn the
Ike know that the fangs of rattle
ra- have entered their flesh and the
ore lose no time in applying the ar
tidote.
ng The wounds inflicted by th
I'll rattlesuake are very painful
IKE The RATHER, when provoked,
ills the most savage Of all serpent
ties and will continue to strike an
ly. lacerate an enemy as long as h
Dit is within reach. Sometimes a
the old snake with full grown fang
ing will fasten upon the cheek c
nes arm Of an Indian and hold o