The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-12-11
M0KIS DANCE; WOULD
APPEASE RAIN GOD

ment of the annual snake ceremonies,
mysterious rites among 81 of the fore
most men in the Moki tribe begin in
chamber hewn into the rock down be-
low the pueblo. This is the kiva,
the holy Of holes Of Moki belief.
DR.. J. Walter Fewks Of the Smithson-
ian institution is the only white person
who has ever entered the kiva, and he
in washing the serpents captured and
brought there by young men. The old
men engage in barbaric incantstiOns,
and chant appeals to the serpents to
bear messages Of devotion and friend
ship to the powers that rule the rain
clouds. The snake priests wear moth
ing to protect themselves from the rep
tiles fangs. Each day they wash the
rattlesnakes, sprinkle sacred cornmeal
on the serpents' heads, and deposit the
creatures in Jars. Meanwhile the Moki
housewives cook and bake in prepara-
ton for the event Of the yesr-the
snake dance on the plaza Of the pu-
eblo The gaudiest tribal finery Is
brought forth and made ready. White
and Navajo Indian visitors come across
the desert to see the public ceremonies
and for week all Mokiland bustles
and huzzes.
At the setting Of the sixteenth sun
from the official announcement by old
Honi the snake dance takes place. Late
In the afternoon the spectators arrange
themselves in vantage spots overlook
Ing the plaza where the dance Is per-
formed. Some $500 persons ere gen.
orally on hand to see the ancient mar
velous ceremony. The roofs OF the
squat stone houses are crowded. Moki
children with scarcely q stitch on them
sit along the cornices wlth their brown
/ legs hanging down. There are cow
boys from all over the territory, report
ers from newspapers. scientists from
the cities. and hundreds Of Indians In
brilliant and quaint costumes. 1t Ii
rare scene; lone at for salon pic
ture," said an enthusiastic artist. The
white people laugh, the dogs and chill
dren make tumult, while every one
awaits the opening Of the dance. AT
lust about six o'clock, when the sun
is dropped into the yellow desert
away to the west, some one calls:
~Here they come" Instantly there IL
silence. Everybody knows that the
antelope men-young athletic snake
dancers-are at last issuing from theil
stone chambers. The braves are
scantily clad, and on each leg is q
small terrapin shelf, in which are
placed small pebbles, which rattle a.
| the warrior moves, and make Of him
| ia sound at least. a human RATHER
The dancers are smeared with red
white and black paints. Around eccf
brow Is bound flaming handkerchief
| the upper forehead being painted .
deep black, and the lower half witt
black and white bands. p
| Live Snakes In Their Mouths.
The band forms In circle and
sack Of serpents is brought forth and
| Is placed Ia the branches Of a cotton
wood shrub known as the kisi JUS
where it has stood on MoH dance
days for countless generations. 4
chief, hideously painted, opens thu
sack and as each brave marches pas
thrusts his naked arm within and jerk
from it several writing serpents
which he hands to the buck. Thu
snake dancer bends and seizes TIN
snakes BY their middle with his teeth
while he holds one or two serpents u
each hand. The serpents rattle, his
and struggle while the human cap
tors. gesticulating and stamping. JoiI
In q solemn rhythmic movement. Il
/ which. after each man has been sup
j piled with serpents. the whole band
soon participating.
The Moki women and the severa
i hundred Moki bucks who do not pas
ffcipate in the dancing at first sit Il
mute awe. AS the dance proceeds tn
red-skinned spectators start low hum
ming. which gradually develops. Loud
y 81 ana louder rises the din OF dis
cordant voices until the women DC
come wildly excited, and leap T
their feet. Meanwhile the dance goe
On. The dancers glisten with pei
/ sniration and the paint on thei
/ hodies runs down their bare back
(, ana legs. Some Of the older ones
| Is show their prowess with venomou
H feptiles, carry three and nve e
t,esn.kes about with them. The