The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-11-19
Gizona Indians, Far Removed
From Civilization, Cling to
Ancestral Customs.
IS IN DAYS BEFORE COLUMBUS
MokiIand 10 the Richest Part Of the
Union for Prehistoric Exploration
Medicine Man Determines
Date for Snake Dance.

Smithsonian psychologists say that
he most interesting aboriginal cere-
monies performed nowadays In Amer
ca take place In midsummer days
among the Moki Indians, who live IN
northeastern Arizona. Scarcely toucn- |
I'd by our civilization and clingtng TO
ancestral customs, H. G. Tinsey tells
he Dearborn Independent, the Mokis
perform during the last days OF eacn
August dances and rites In propitia-
| ton Of their god Of rain, identicai
with those Of their ancestors ages De-
tore Columbus sailed from Spain.
Mokiland, or the province OF Tusuy.
m as the Spanish named 1t In the
Early part Of the sixteenth century. ID
the richest part Of the Union for pre-
historic exploration. Cities OF strong
intelligent people fiourished here IN
the time Of the Caesars. Ruins OF
neathen temples, which crumDled De
fore the Montezuma dynasty began.
lie among the drifting sands. Inc
land of the Mokis abOunds IN an
Gent traditions still kept In their
pristine FRESHNESS.
, Studying Mol<is' Customs.
!. This month two score Of American
{ phpologists and psychologists, besides
! ,ome from Europe. have gathered II
J. The Moki pueblos to study the Gus
1 IONS, habits, thought and tradition
e " man In prehistoric America. as the,
aave come down through generation
8 If Mokis.
+ Spanish adventures under Col
d onado reck0ned In 1912 that Their
e we're about 1900 souls in the Tusu,
&c IN confederacy of Moki tribes. NO
Is here are but few hundred MOki
e They are known also as Hops; an
n. .heir name signifies peace loving
d They have a tradition that sewers
u hundred years ago the warlil
r. Apaches waged terrific war again
rs The tribe. The remnant Of the Mok
ne fed in terror and took refuge on Il
wi two great tablelands Of red sandstol
which rise sheer some 70 feet out
as 4 vast sea Of sand. The great rocl
ct formation has been veritable I
us orsltar Of defense to the tribe and fro
De- The day the ancestral Mokis fled tn
and their descendants have dw
nr- there isolated. Rain is the all-ess'
Is tial element in the success OF M
all agriculture, and In the desert regi
'ay rains come capriciOusly.
WI The date Of the Moki snake dal
eA. is determined by an old medicine n
teu In the tribe. When during August
sun at Its setting glints the sac
'iid rock that stands before the door
10 the tribal kiva, the old medicine N
ana Honi, mounts the highest point
Is either Walpi or Oraibi and solem
'he gives notice that 16 sunsets hence
W solemn snake ceremonies will Z
roin place. He ends by invoking all to
gin immediate preparation for the
,iSS casion. The women are to bake
~ q tribal feast, to dress themselves
,n'n their children in their best garme
nus and the men are to perform their
!. eral parts In the ceremonies.
=. A certain number Of young men.
" pointed for the purpose. start gu
next dawn to perform their par
the preparation for the dance. 1
not are jakulali (snake gatherers).
roam over the desert with TO-
v as stick In one hand and bag mad
ually vkins in the other. They know "
. Of to look for rattlesnakes and .
, the times they get more than 40 serr
8 as ID ! week. They plant the fork
the their sticks over the neck Of tn
eun,bent snake. and by an adrott n
ment throw the reptile into the
the serpents are brought to the p'
the and turned over to the old 2
work hriogts.
tjmA tn prellmlnarsee.
x daya a1tee The ofacial anno'