Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-09-18
INDIAN SNAKE
CEREMONIAL is
ANCIENT RITE
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN

Washington, d. c., Sept. H.
Many years ago great drouth
visited the land of the Hopi In
dams, in northern Arizona ac-
cording to an Indian legend The
corn and the melons died and
there was no game. By and by
the people themselves began 10
die of hunger and thirst. The
old men planted many prayer
sticks. The gods were invoked in
every way the people could de-
wise. But no rain came. There
was great suffering. Then the
children said. I'VE must help.
How can we make the gods
listen? BY doing something that
we hate" So they went out Oh the
plain below and gathered snakes,
and played with them, putting
them in their mouths, and sing
ing and dancing with them.
Then came great rains and the
peoples lives were saved. And
the old men said, THE children
have pleased the gods by play
ing with that which the gods
love. We have learned our les
SON" So they bound themselves
in the great snake fraternity,
made songs and prayers, and
once every year since then they
have appealed to the gods for
rain with their snake brotherst'
who are the messengers to the
underworld.
Thus was evolved, according toI
legend, the snake dance which
falls between August 20 and 90.
The exact date depends upon the
moon. il was held this year on
the latter date, and as is always
the case, attracted a large crowd
from all over the Southwest.
The dance is carried out now in
much the same manner as it was
years ago, it is believed. Two
fraternities always participate,
the Antelope and the Snake, the
former as assistants in certain
rites. For nine days before the
dance the men of the latter or
ganization 20 out on the plains
with notched sticks, buckskin
bags and wallets of sacred meal
AS they Carture each reptile. they
sprinkle it with the holy meal and
thrust it in the bag. Toward
evening they bring their captives
TO the snake kiva, (church)
where the reptiles are washed,
sprinkled again with meal sub
mitted to chants and prayers and
kept in captivity until The great
event. Their number is added to
day by day. And so, for many
days, minor ceremonies arc held
in the ltiva.
Late in the afternoon Of the
day before the dance, the Ante
Iope priests appear in full regalia
OF painted bodies, dance sashes
and kits Of brilliant colors, and
with symbolic equipment such as
bowls of sacred meal, prayer
plumes. sacrificial plants, and
feathered wands. For half an
hour they chant and enact a
prayer for rain and for their |
brothers. the snake priests.
A Race With the Sunrise
The next morning before dawn
runners have gone far out on the
plain that they may race to the
mesa top, hoping to reach it as |
the sun rises. They go Looping in |
along various paths, all of which |
converge in the trail to the TOP
Up they run. seemingly unwinded |
and unwearied. Young girls are
standing at certain points with
offerings Of melon vines and corn
stalks. which the runners seize as |
they pass. Old women have drawn
lines of sacred meal from the
trail top towards the kiva court.
NO stranger must cross these
lines under penalty Of much
2hattering and scolding. The
dash through the lana
IT meal and then, in open court,
battle with a bevy of girls forI
heir green offerings. Indianl
girls, like their white sisters, are
ioluble in their play--they shrek
md sdueal with laughter. It is
'vident that the girl favored Of
Zach runner always wins.
The court in which the dance