Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-09-16
HOPI INDIAN SNAKE DANCE
by Frederic J. Hsskin.

1 -
washington. Sept. is.--Many years
ago q great drouth visited the lsnd /
OF the Hopl Indians. In northern Arr
IONA. according 70 an Indian legend. |
The corn and the melons died and |
there was no game. BY and by the |
people themselves began 70 die OK
hunger and thirst. The old men plant
ed many prayer sticks. The gods were
invoked I'm every way the people
could devise. But no rain camo'
There was great suffering. Then the
children said, we must help. How
can we make the godr listen7 BY do
| ing something that we hate" so
| they went out on the plain below and
gathered snakes. and played with
! them. putting them in their mouths,
and singing and dancing with them.
Then came great rains ond the peo-
ple's lives were saved. And tho 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 70
the underworld
Thus was evolved. according TO leg
end, the snake dance which falls
between August 20 and rs. The exact
date depends upon the moon. II was
held this year on the latter date and.
t,r al "a uff fNA In y
crowd from all over the southwest.
The dance Is carried out now in
much the game manner as It was
years ago. it is believed. To ffater
mites always participate, the Antelope
and the snake, the former as assist
ants in certain rites. For days be-
fore the dance the men Of the latter
organization go out on the plains
with notched sticks. butkskin bags
and wallets Of sacred meal TO hunt
for their snake brothers. -As they
capture each reptile, they sprinkle II
with the holy meal and thrust it in
I, tho bag. Toward evening they bring
their captives 70 the snake kiva,
Church, where tho reptiles are wash
: ed. sprinkled again with meal, sub
mitted to chants and prayers and kept
:, In captivity until the great event
! Their number IL added to day by day
!, And so. for many days, minor cere-
!, monies are held in the kiva.
!. Late in the afternoon Of the day
!, before the dance. the Antelope priests
appear in full resalis Of painted
= bodies, dance sasnes and kits Of bril-
r liant colors. and with symbolic equip
, ! rnent such as bowls Of sacred meal
!, prayer plurnes. sacrifcial plants. AM
, feathered wands For half an hour
: they chant and enact prayer 70
rain and for their brothers. the snak
}. priests.
n A Race With the Sunrise.
The next morning before dawn run
y ners have gone far out on the plail
d. that they may race TO the mesa tor
u hoping TO reach IL az the sun rises
- They go Looping in along varfou
paths, all of which converge in IN
'e tran to the top. Up they run, seem
ingly unwinded and unwearied. Youn
girls are standing at certain point
with offerings of melon vines an
~ corn stalks, which ths runners seiz
~ at they pass. Old women have draw
y lines of sacred meal from the trail TO
=, towards the kiva court. No strange
!. must cross these lines under penalt
~. of much chattering and scolding. III
runners dash through the lane Of me;
rr and then, in open court, battle wit
:. a bevy of girls for their green offel
lngs. Indian girls, like their viii
"a sisters, are voluble In their play-the
shrek and squeal with laughter.
Is evident that the girl favored OF eac
ha runner always wins.
~ The court in which the dance occu
10 looks as usual except for the ki
IN, built at one end. The kisi is q
"a shrine of cottonwood boughs cover'
with canvas wherein the snakes a
put for the ceremony. A shallow no
=, is dug in front Of il over which
II board Is laid. This is Shi-pa-pu. 4
II entrance to the underworld or Z
| abiding place OF the gods.
WI At ) p. m. or a little later, I
Antelope priests enter the court wi
II the same paraphernalia they employ