Arizona republican., 1911-08-15
SNAKE DANCE
 0F PUEBL0S Will Be Witnessed by Sec.
 retaPy WILL 60 10 RESERVATION
Word Comes that Moquis are Gathering In for Great Religious Ceremon- ial-Celebrities Will Come To Arizona To Witness.

Following the expression of his de- sire to attend the Mopui Snake Dance. Harry Welch, secretary of the Phoe- hlN board of trade. yesterday re- ceived communication from w. II. Clark, the secretary of the Navajo Development company, whose office IS located on the Moqui Indian reser- vation, telling him that the dance will occur not later than August 22. and probably on the 22nd
 The information imparted by the writer of the letter had been gathered from an agent of the companv who had returned from Keams Canyon last Wednesday night. after spending sev- eral weeks among the Indians. He reported that the Moquis were gather ing in from their camps to the cen tral villages, and that preparations for the ceremony were well under way.
 Because of this report MT Clark urged Mir. Welch to try and reach HOlbrook, on the main line of the Santa Fe, not later than August r.. as the only means of transportation from the railroad to the Moqui villages, which lie about siXty-five miles north of the nearest stations. is by team. and the trip ordinarily requires two days each way. It is possible to drive from Winslow, Canyon Diablo. and Adamana as well as Holbrook. but Mir. Welch expects to begin the stage part of his trip from the last men toned station
 It has already been announced through the press that a large num- Der of celebrated historians and scien- lists, as we'll as writers, and others who fell interested in the religious ceremonies still practiced by the Indi- an tribes, are planning to attend the MOqui Indian dance. In his letter from Holbrook. MT. Clark stated that a large party of Denver people were planning to come down to witness the dance, and that it might be diff ficult to secure accommodations if the visitors put off their arrival until late hour.
 In order to reach Holbrook in good time Mir Welch expects to leave Phoenix on next Wednesday as he be lieves it will be better to reach the reservation a day early than a day late. There are plenty of interesting sights around the Indian villages that would serve to make the time pass swiftly there. and profitably for one who plans to use the material gath cred during the time of his stay in the villages for newspaper and maga- zine articles descriptive of Indian rites and customs.
 A description of the snake dance has recently appeared in a folder is sued by the Santa Fe, which says, in part:
 The dramatic ceremony of the Pueblo Indians of Tusayan, Arizona. popularly known as the MOqui Snake dance. will occur in August this year. About the same time, Casually the next day) the snake dance will also be given at Shipaulovi, and Shungopavi on the second mesa, few miles east of Oraibi.
 This weird ceremony is a prayer for rain In continues for nine days. The public performance Gin which live are handled) occurs on the ninth. or last day, which is the time when the general public are in vited to be present although no ob- jection is made to an earlier visit.
 "The province of Tusayan. or Mo- qui reservation, comprises 1000 square miles, and is inhabited by 2,OOO In- ! dians, who are grouped in seven vil- | lages on three high mesas near the southern border. Oraibi, on the west ! mesa, Cthe largest of the Moqui vil- l lages), where the most interesting | festivities are to take place, is peop- | led by Indians who are more conser- | vative than those of the other will | lages, but they are quite friendly. | The dance. as given at Shungopavi | and Shipaulovi on the second mesa, | is by many considered more primitive.
 "The public snake ceremony will occur between August IS and 27-I probably near August 25. The exact date cannot be given until announced by the chief snake priest. The flute | ceremony occurs about the same time. This novel dance is an elaborote af- fair, and by many considered as equal to that of the snakes"
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