Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-16

Washington, ID. c., Sept. Io.-Many
years ago a great drouth visited the
land of the Hopi Indians, in northern
Arizona, according to an Indian legend.
The corn and melons died, and there
was no game. BY and by the people
themselves began to die OF hunger n
thirst. The old men planted many
prayer sticks. The gods were invoked
in every way the people could devise.
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 on the
plain below and gathered snakes, and
Mayed with them, putting them in
their mouths, and singing and dancing
with them.
Then came great rains and the peo-
pies lives were saved. And the old
men said, THE children have pleased
the gods by playing with that which
the gods love. We have learned our
lesson" 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 brothers..
who are the messengers to the under
world.
Thus was evolved. according to the
legend. the snake dance. which falls be-
tween August 20 and %. The exact
date depends upon the moon. 1t was
held this yea 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 1t 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 organ
ization go out on the plains with
notched sticks, buckskin bags and wal
lets of sacred meal TO hunt for their
snake brothers. AS they capture each
reptile. they sprinkle it with the hoy
meal and thrust it in the bag. Toward
evening they bring their captives TO
the snake kive Church,, where the
reptiles are washed. ~sprinkled again
with meal, submitted 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 are held in the klva.
Late in the afternoon of the day be-
fore the dance. the Antelope priests
appear in full regalia of painted
bodies. dance sashes and kits of bril-
liant colors. and with symbolic equip
ment. such as bowls of sacred meal,
PRAYER plumes. sacrificial pants and
feathered wands. For half an hour
they chant and enact 2 prayer for ram
and for their brothe-s, the Snake
priests.
A Race With the Sunrise
The next morning before dawn run
ners have gone far out on the PLAIN
that they race to the mesa top, hoping
70 reach it az the sun rises. They go
| loping along various paths. all of which
converge in the trail TO the top. Up
they run, seemingly unwinded and un-
wearied. Young girls are standing at
certain points with offerings of melon
vines and corn stalks. which the run
ners seize as they pass. Old women
have drawn lines of sacred meal from
the trial top towards the kiva court
No stranger must cross these lines
under penalty of much chattering and
scolding. The INNER dash through
the lane of meal and then, in open
court. battle with a bevy of girls for
their green offerings. Indian girls. like
their white sisters. are voluble in their
play-they shrek and squeal with
laughter. 1t is evident that the CIR
favored of each runner always wins.
The court in which the dance occurs
looks as usual except for the kisi built
at one end. The kisi is the shrine OF
cottonwood boughs covered with can
vas. wherein the snakes are put for
the ceremony. A shallow hole is dug
in front of it, over which a board is
laid. This is S~hi-pa-pL, the entrance
to the underworld, or the abiding place
of the gods.
At 5 p. m. or a little later, the
Antelope priests enter the court with
. the same paraphernalia they employed
the day before. After c%irciing over
Shi- pa a few times, thye take
their places side Of the kisi and sing
Justify. and with a wild, vigorous mel,
ody. Two or three times during the
song. they hum a deep, reverberatine
refrain that has the effect Of many
%'celIos. They employ no drum, though
a shrill rattle and a bull roarer" are