The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-07-17
VERY UNCANNY
|SSNAKE DANCE
OF H0P|I|ND|ANS
Dancers Hold Big RattIers in
Hands and Go through Many.
Weird Movements.
ts,IelAl 1el1nr 1...e.A.,


WASHINGTON, D. c., July IL
The wierd and uncanny ,snake-dance
Of the Hopi Indians is described in
communication to the National Geo.
graphical Society, at Washington. u.
c., by Miss Marion L. Oliver, daugh-
ter of former Assistant Secretary OF
War Robert Shaw Oliver.
Bag of Snakes.
THE chief of the harvest priests
first appeared. carrying in his hand
wierd wind instrument, which
as he swung sounded like the. angry
soughing wind of storm" she
writes. Others followed carrying
rattles which made the sound of fall
ing rain; others had ears Of corn or
other harvest emblems Suddenly
saw priest ascending the ladder
leading from the snake kiva. He
was covered with long coat and
carried great bag, the contents or
which writhed and wriggled. He
deposited his bag of snakes under the
tepee-like altar Just as the rays OF
the setting sun struck the top rung
OF the ladder. several wild figures
emerged. Now the ceremony began.
Crossing hands. they swayed from
east to west with eyes half closed.
After about twenty motions they
burst into a deep-voiced chant. Soon
some of the priests began to look
half hypnotized, and sang with their
eyes fixed and heads bent.
Hold Snakes in Mouth.
Suddenly the singing stopped and
the snake priests stood in line, sim
gle file, only every other priest had
his hand on the shoulder Of the one
in front Of him and in the, other hand
carried wand OF eagle feathers.
Around they went, around the plaza,
with a funny, hig-stepping motion.
AS they passed the altar they paused
and stamped twice on a board that
was over hole to awaken the spir-
Its to hear their prayers. The sec
ond time the priests passed the altar
p saw them pause, but only when
they had turned facing me did l real
ize the horror. Every other man had
a squirming live rattlesnake in his
mouth! The snakes were curling
themselves into all kinds OF horrible
shapes, and their evil heads went
darting this way and that. I saw
one rattler strike man just under
the ear. He had to pull it loose, but
took a fresh hold Of the snake nearer
its head and seemed none the worst
for it.
Now 1 saw, the reason for the
second priest with feather wands,
Their duty was to soothe the snake
by stroking it with the feathers, and
to guide the snake-carrying priest,
who often looked as II he were in a
trance. The snakes would hiss ana
try to coil and strike, but the tickling
of the feathers would make them I'M
coil, and the priests would pick them
up with about as much concern as
most. people would pick up a rope.
Two Of the snake priests were little
boys who could not have been more
than eight years old. One Of them
danced with bull snake bigger than
himself. which he had to hold with
both hands as well as his teeth toI
prevent 1t from getting away.
Bites Not Poison.
"A group of Hopi maidens now
entered. The priests. then, threw all
the snakes on the ground in a great
squirming mass at their feet; and
the maidens sprinkled the -hideous
reptiles with sacred meal. Then the |
priests bent down and eacht seized
two handfuls Of snakes, and turning
ran with incred ible sMiltness 10tit OF |