The Holbrook news. (Holbrook, Navajo County [Ariz.]) 1909-1923, 1913-08-29
HOPI PRAYERS
ARE ANSWERED

day the Hopi rain prayers were
symbolized in the famous snake
dance held at Walpi Mesa with
all their form and ceremonial of
ancient days and was witnessed
by the largest crowd ever drawn
to this savage supplication rite.
Theodore Roosevelt, the former
big chief at Washington was hon
ored with the greatest mark of
Indians favor when he was TAX
en- into the Khiva and allowed to
witness the washing and bless
ing of the rattlesnakes used in
the dance. With him were his
sons, Archie and Quentin, and
his nephew, Nicholas, making,
now in all, six white men who
have been signally honored by
this strange tribe.
Roosevelt characterized the
underground ceremonies of the
Hopi snake priests, as immense
ly more interesting than those to
which the public is admitted, but
he refused to allow any real facts
of the ceremony to be used for
publication, saying that he re-
spected the religious belief of
Indians as he hoped they would
respect those of the white man.
A copious rain met Wednes-
\ days section of tourists in the
side hills just below Walpi Mesa
and caused several hours delay
and compelled the men of the
party to exhibit all their fighting
qualities to get through the deep
treacherous quicksand. Many
cars stuck in the washes were
hauled out by main force. as
many as thirty men failing on to
the ropes.
Governor Hunt showed him
self not merely a talker
of good roads but he lit into the
work with the rest of them and
lugged huge rocks, carrying
brush and did his share on the
rope end. Good time was made
wlthal and the whole party ar
rived safely to swell the already
large numbers of white visitors
at the Mesa The number of out
siders approximated 500 and by
actual count there were sixty one
cars from all northern points and
Phoenix. The most interesting
of the Indian dances occurred
just as it has for past hundreds
of years. a prayer to the high
gods for rains. Thirty-two priests
of which twenty were snake
priests, took part in the spectacle,
handling in marvellous fashion
full grown rattlers without fear
or hurt.
From time to time the first an
telope priests appeared from the
sacred Khiva and started their
monotonous chant in front of the
snake alter until the last rites of
purification had been accomplish
ed. the two thousand watchers
from the tops of houses on the
edge of the Mesa held their
breath with interest in the cere-
monies. Three moving picture
concerns were working and cam
eras appeared literally by the
hundreds. Governor Hunt and
the Roosevelt parties occupied
specially reserved, raised seats
at the very edge of the dancing
space and were not the least in
terested in the throng.
Colonel Roosevelt's comments
were short and concise but show
ed that he had a deep and clear
understanding Of the ceremony.
His chief concern is fort he every
day welfare of this most interest
ing tribe and he made several
good recommendations about san
itation. but said he preferred to
see the Indians remain on their
mesa tops to seeing them trans
ferred to the lower levels, though
more fertile, fields can be found
for them there. He was also in
terested in seeing the traditions
preserved. Lyle Abbott in the
Republican.