Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-09-16

the day before. After clrcling over
shi-pa-pu a few times they take their
places on either side Of the kisi and
sing lustily, rhythmically, and with
n Wild, vigorous melody. Two or three
time during the song they mum
deep reverberailns refrain that has
tho effect Of many celios They employ
no drum, though shriii rattle and a
'rbuil-roarer" are occa4lonally used.
MI the time they keep Nnp certain
rhythmic weaving OF tnsir fsatbered
wands.
Then the Snake pries,s dash in--lit-
orally dash in--tbeir ratt1es ungling
madiy. their feet padding the hard
packed earth faster than ear can CON
veniently count. They are Wild look
ing creatures, painted reddish brown
from head 70 toe. Their hair ~ ragged
and fluffy with parrot plumes stsinef
soft rosy brown. Their jaws and
cnins are painted black, the mouths
broadly outlined with white.
The Dance Grows Furious.
They take their places In front Of
! the Antelope priests and with tnsm
chant and wave their wand@ for
many minutes. The music seems %
grow wilder Suddenly 10 breaks. The
! Snake priests separate. One Of them
kneels in front Of tho XIII. reaches IN
and pulls out snake. He grips 80
mock with his lips 80 that lis hoad
| projects a little beyond his left Jaw.
/ and IL II II large snake. or 7
feet long. ne grasps its body with his
hands. Meantime another priest. with
| feather wand; has taken his place az
the dancers right. piaces his eft
hand on the dancers left shoulder.
and with the wand strokes the body
Of the snake. Together, with high
| rhythmic step, they start around me
court. a third priest, also Win a
feather wand. falls in behind Thus the
! whole fraternity forms into groupe q
three faster man words can describe.
making the circle Of the danceI Every
time they cross Shi-pa-pu. the5l s.arn ,
Upon the board. These bsats fell -
regularly as those Of drum and keep
perfect time 70 the cong Of the Ante
lopes. Both movement and song ar.
swift and wild.
Several times each group 81 three
makes the circle. and then the dancer
drops the snake. The third nnernfeS
Of the group. the "gatherer," now
brushes the snake with his wand and
selling II by the neck swfnss it high
in the air. Then he Grapes Il over 1T.
left arm as unconcernedly ar A WON
an adjusts bouquet Meantime his
two companions. the dancer" and
= the 'hugger". have gone on around
= 10 the kisi and secured another ser
49, 49,
3 and around until the "gathere-z" have
r arrnfuls OF reptiles. Now and then the-
r hand them 70 the Antelope priests VIII
e nonchalantly fold them over thssi
arms without losing a beat In thei,
songs.
Altogether they use 70 or 20 o
: the creatures, big and l.ttls, Harmless
n and poisonous. whip snakes, bul
}, snakes, mathematics, any Kind O
;. snake
8 Finally, almost unno-.ced. u-o,e,
e come from an inner room with plaors
: OF sacred meal and draw a nush Whit
z circle in one corner OF the court. The
3 the lines break The snakes are throw
d IN a heap inside the circle. the won.
q en hastily and tinnidIy sprinkle Their
n With meal. and as hastily depart. Ger
% tain OF the young Snake priests dar
n IN, and selling as many reptiles =
:, they can hold. dash in the four 4
"a rections. Far out on the plain the
- release their loads-and their ass
. pent brothers seek their holes an
bear the recently enacted rain-Drsys
TO the gods below.
Ne The snakes fangz are not rule
~ Sornerirnes the man ara hf..a, -.
- IS claimed they do not even get etc
III It is rumored that for many days b,
fore the dance the men Use an heI
rs tea which the women prepare. whsc
81 acts as a counter poison.