The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-11-19
MOKIS DANCE; WOULD
APPEASE RAIN GOD

ment of the annual snake ceremonies.
rites among q Of the fore
most men In the Moki tribe begin In
a chamber hewn into the rock down be
low the pueblo. This Ii the kiva.
the holy of HOLES Of M0ki belief.
DIR. ]. Walter Fewks Of the Smithson-
ian institution Is the only white person
who has ever entered the kiva. and he |
says that the ceremonies there consist
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 prepare
ton for the event Of the yecr-the
snake dance N the plaza Of the pu-
eblo. The gaudiest tribal anery Is
brought forth and made ready. White
and Navajo Indian visitors come across
the desert to see the public ceremonies
and for G week all M0kiland bustles
0nd buzzes.
i At the setting Of the sixteenth sun
from the ofllcial announcement by OLD
Honi the snake dance takes place. Lats
in the afternoon the spectators arrang'
, themselves in vantage spots overlook
: ing the plaza where the dance ID per
formed. Some $500 persons ere gen
! orally on hand to see the ancient mar
Vicious ceremony. The roofs Of tn
SQUAT stone houses are crowded. MOI
children with scarcely stitch on ther
sit along the cornices with their brow
legs hanging down. There are COW
n boys from all over the territory, repor
8 ers from newspapers. scientists frol
q the cities, and hundreds Of Indians
, brilliant and quaint costumes. It
- rare scene; lone ut for salon pi
y ture," said an enthusiastic artist. II
- white people laugh, the dogs and en-
dren make tumult, while every o.
r. awaits the opening Of the dance.
re lust about six o'clock, when the 81
" is dropped into the yellow desc
w away to the west. some one call
Is. Here they come" Instantly there
nd silence. Everybody knows that
:" antelope men--young athletic sna
al dancers-are at last issuing from tn
Ike stone chambers. The braves
list scantily clad, and on each ley 8
kis small terrapin shell. in which
he placed small pebbles, which rattle
me the warrior moves, and make OF n
Of in sound at least, human ratt
ky The dancers are smeared with
I'll white and black paints. Around e
ON brow is bound flaming handkerch
aey the upper forehead being painted
,elt deep black, and the lower half v
en- black and white bands.
oki Live Snakes in Their Mouths.
ion The band forms in circle en-
sack Of serpents is brought forth
nee is placed In the branches Of cot
nan wood shrub known as the kist
the where it has stood on Moki d.
red days for countless generations.
Of chief, hideously painted. opens
nan, sack and as each brave marches
at thrusts his naked arm within and J
nnly from 1t several writing serp'
the which he hands to the buck.
rake snake dancer bends and seizes
, be- snakes by their middle with his t
&C. while he holds one or two serpen
for each hand. The serpents rattle,
and and struggle while the human
pnts tors. gesticulating and stamping,
sew in . solemn rhythmic movement
which, after each man has been
an piled with serpents, the whole ba
Il at soon participating.
i n The M0ki women and the Sc
They hundred Moki bucks who do not
They tlcipate in the dancing at frst
,rked mute awe. As the dance proceed
Is 81 red-skinned spectators start low
rhere ming. which gradually develops.
,ome- er and louder rises the din Of
rent. cortlant voices until the w0mel
q OF come wildly excited, and lea
. r. their feet. Meanwhile the dance
move on. the dancers susten WIN
bag. spiration ana the peint On
ueblo bodies runs down tneir OaIe
snake and legs. Some u tho older
to show their prowess with ven'
reptileA carry three and I'VE
18th than