The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-11-19

weave the snakes about their heads.
they coil them in huge balls and to-
them up and down; they twine them
about their necks lAd tuck them BE-
tween the belts Of their kits and their
nude waists, and carry them, held at
the middle, In their mouths. All this
time they are hopping about the sun
baked plaza. Now they circle about
the kisi with their burden Of serpents
In their hands. Then At . signal b.
old Kopali, the snake chief. the dane
err form in threes. and with the SNAKES
wriggllng for freedom In their hands.
they march backward and forward.
Another signal and they form In . row
and toss the serpents to and fro. Then
4 the dancs starts assw. More ciscfinos
marchings and countermarching In
ones, twos and threes. Occasionally =
reptile wriggles itself loose from an
Indians hand 1t is, however, instant
~ picked up like 80 much rubber hose.
/ An Hour o. Horror.
\ The snake dance lasts about atty
minutes. At IT. close the h dian spec
tators have risen to their feet, and are
weaving their arms and bodies back
+. and forth In time to the rapid chorus
; they are shouting over and over again.
The dancers are dripping with 20
SEPARATION. The white visitors are daxed
, at the incredible scene. No one who
has not seen 1t would believe these
. men can be so thoroughly Indifferent to
! the serpent's venom.
Suddenly at q signal from wrinhled
I Kopali the dancing ceases and the high
n snake priest advances to an oQen
t place. He solemnly sprinkles meal IN
!: ring, denoting all compass points "a
IL which serpent messengers are to con
e vey the Moki petitions At another
e signal the rattlesnakes are thrown In Z
ir heap within the circle. Meal Is hastily
re thrown upon the wriggling heap. whit
q a cultural invocation ID pronounced. Il
re a moment each Of the dancers snatche
as several Of the serpents in his hands
m. and starts at full speed for the marrow
n. trail which leads down from the mes
d. to the plains below. There the grue
Oh some burdens are thrown upon tn
ef, sands and permitted to 60 their va
IN peace.
It'll The dance Is over, but there's anotl
er scene. When the athletic dancer
have come running back to the plaz
they hasten to the sacred kiva. wbe
md they remove all the trappings Of d
on ceremony. Then they come out a
ust drink deeply from bowl Of mystic
nee GUS decotion Of herbs brewed only
A SalakO, the oldest snake woman
the MOkiland.
asst Then the Mokis 20 home In silent
rks They have performed the most imp'
nts. tant service in their lives and ha
The propitiated the rain god as sacredly
the they know how. Their wives q
eth, sweethearts wait upon them and WI
) in them Of their paint. On the morr
hiss the pueblo feast takes place, and I
rap new green corn and melons are ca
join without stint.
. In Very naturally the question Is ask
sup Are not the rattlesnakes used In
d Is Moki ceremonies drugged or depri'
Of their fangs? II not. why are not
eral half-nude snake dancers and prit
par bitten? White people who have :
t in several Moki snake dances say I
the have never known a Moki to conf
num- he was fanged, but every year spe
ou.i- tors see snake dancers pull away &
dis their arms sserpents that have taste
b. there. Every year some Of the rept
, - coil and strike at their captors.
goes best-posted scientists who have loe
per. upon Moki snake dances ~ that
their priests and dancers have cef
JACKS manner o. handling the creatures
ones, that the strange broth Which - =
nous handlers drink renders venon ~
mt issA ~ an Saas \ = ua1oa ~
They harbArie custemA i