Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, September 22, 1895, Page 16

! i i | N N THE OMAIA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, SNAKE DANCE OF THE MOQUIS Btartling Barbaric Rites Practiced by Arizona Indians, DETAKLS OF THE SHOCKING CEREMONV+ People Lost to Civilizing Influences and Clinging to Ancient Customs— Prospective Citizens of the ted States, HOLBROOK, Ariz, Sept. 18.—(Corre- mpondence of The Bee)—When Uncle boasts of the many strange peoples he has united under the protection of his flag in one great, happy family, he never mentions | a race of pagans who worship snakes, but | very likely it is because he knows next to nothing about this remarkable people, Ser- pent worship was one of tha most ancient n religions, one of its and 1t Is a cur- last lingering and common p fous fact that rem te 18 found in the United States, and that, too, among the people whom the courts have declared to be citizens of what Amesi- cans believ to be the most enlightened untry on the globe. RORHis, teligion, or superstition, or paganism you prefer, s stiil in active force among the Moqul Indlans of northeastern Arizona No white man has been able to solve Its mysterics, and little fs known about It ex cept what appears at the biennial snake | [ dance. In the frenzy of that ceremony the initiated fearlessly grab rattlesnakes and | other deadly serpents by the handful, put the slimy, wriggling reptiles in their mouths and prance about a sacred rock in rythmic tune. The performers in this strange dev tion are sometimes bitten by the snakes, whose poison would be sure death to other men, but the Mggui devotees ara known to be any the worse for thein experi- ence, It 1s not am unusual thing in these dances to see an fndlan with two serpents in | his mouth, holding them by the slack skin | just back of the venomous heads. There i rellable evidence that the fangs of these gnakes are not extracted, and hideous rat- tlers five feot long are often use: CHRISTIAN INFLUENCES UNAVAILING Serpent worship was common amoug l'm' Pueblo tribes when they fell under the yoke of the Spanish conquistadores 300 years ago, | but the successors of Cortez and C: were panied by many padres, who brou ns ofNew Mexico to obsery som e of Christianity. During the re of 1860, when the fards out of the land now known as Mexico and Arizona, the M Kill missionaries among them and have ever resisted Christianizing influences. Their seven villages, built upon barren rocks and cliffs | and reached by narrow, difficult trails, are eighty miles north of Holbrook on the At- lantic & Pacific rallroad. The intervening country i desert, given over to the the cactus and the soapweed. i back-breaking ride to Moqui land, over rough trails that climb mountains, drag wearily across scorching mesas or jump from rock to rock in racking conyons, On the way one may see the ruins of a community house, with perhaps fifty rooms, whose people were killed by the Moquis because they had too many “singing men.” The Moquis stormed the place at night, threw bundles of burning straw through the doors in the roof peculiar to these bulldings, and suffocated the inhab- itants, At &nother point may be seen an in- seription cut fn a soft rock, saying that Kit Carson passed that way In 1863 in command | of a regiment of New Mexicans. There are also cliff dwellings along the route, some of ;vhloh are at times occupled by Moqui fam- lies, THE SNAKE DANCE. The snake dance is held every second year during the month of August. The date is governed by the moon and is seldom known more than ten days in advance. It is fixed by a medicine man, who has a_peculiar cal- endar, He sits in a darkened chamber, with a hole in the roof. A beam of light from the sun or the moon falls on the floor and slowly moves across the priest's guiding lines drawn on the hardened dirg, Several years ago a medicine man made a mistake of two days In his caleulation, which was discovered, and the angered Moquis, fearful of the conse- quences of such a blunder in their worship, nearly killed him. The principal snake dance 1s held at the village of Walpal, Among the spectators this year were a number of Navajo Indians, a punchers and Mexlcan sheep herders from scattered grazing grounds und several tourists from civilization. Among the latter was Hamlin Garland. The ceremonies begin eight days before the dance, when the priest of this strange wor- ship consecrates the young men and sends them forth to capture snakes. In the house of this caclque they recite prayers and sprinkle themselves with “medicine water” and cungue (cacred corn meal). The young men roam over the nelghb , Biv- Ing a day to each of the four polnts of the compass. They are sald to have captured as many as 400 or 500 snakes for a dance, but perhaps a third of that number is nearer the average. As many as fourteen varieties of serpents are used, but the rattlesnake is the most common. The catchers are members of the snake order, and they are provided with four “‘med- fcines” made from roots. A Mogui explained that when a catcher meets a snake he prays to the sun, saying: “Father, make him to be tame; prevall on him that no harm shall come to me.” ‘Then he says to the snake: “Father, be tame for me, my prayers.” OPERATIONS OF A SNAKRE CATCHER. The catcher has a wand, tipped with foathers from the eagle, the ancient enemy of the serpent. The ragtlesnake does not bite; he strikes. In order to strike he must coil a large part of his body, and his jaw: aro opened wide until they form nearly a gtraight line. The rattler apparently has a great fear of the eagle feathers. When tickled or brushed with the feather it will instantly uncoil and try to escape. The young Moqui scizes that opportune moment to grab the snake just back of the head. He holds it up to the sun with his left hand, strokes it with his right, and repeats the prayers already quo In explanation of the use of the word “father’ in this conn n it may be stated that the Moquis have a legend that they are descended from a snake for here I make The sun, which gives warmth and makes crops possible, is symbolized as a ol father." The captured snakes a (earthenware jars) | is Spanish for stove. e confined | the estufas. The estufa plays an Im- mortant part in the life of all the Pueblo | tribes. It is a large chamber, generally cir- cular, and mostly underground. It Is ¢ 1, except for a small opening in_the the roof, through which a ladder gives ac cess. The estufa is used for religious cere- monles, the meetings of secret socleties and as a lounging place for the men in winter. It I8 stifing with a fire in the center and filled with men, which may have suggested Ahe name. Walpal has five estufas. One of ‘these Is thirty-five feet long by twenty-five wide, with walls of etone seven feet high. The walls are decorated with drawings which snakes figure largely, and s about are many implements used in réligious exerclses. All the Pueblos jealously guard against witness by whites during their cere- monies, but at other times a small plece of silver will give access to an estufa. The snake dance is the great event of the yoar for the Moquis. The morning is t:ken up with races by the younger Mogquis not members of the snake order, In one of these the little children take part. Many of these are wholly naked and tho participants some- times number 200. The race for young men may be from a point five m'les away, across the valley and up the cliff to the me‘a occu- pled by the vil'age. The elderly Moquis are out in thelr holiday attire, wearing bits of dooking glass for ornaments. The maldens have on all thelr native finery, and many of them are actually pretty, with bare fest that ‘Would do credit to Trilby. Their black hair is done up in flat colls at the sides of the head, which are a sign they are not marrled DECORATIONS OF THE DANCERS. While the races are in progress the mem- bers of the snake order are In the esiufas pre- paring for the dance. The participan's are medicine men, wand carriers, dancers and neophyte cochinos or singing boys. Thelr bodles are smeared In various colors. Thev center of wear kilts of cotton of native growth and manufacture. These are striped in s.veral colors, decorated with black snakes and fringed with jingling bits of tin and lead. Over the kilts are fox skins w'th (he busty talls dangling behind. About each ankl» is . B circlet of rattling sheep's hoots and on e'eh | | | | never | B | SEPTEMBER 22 RS . Crash of Values! The Greatest Sale on Record! The Greatest Value Giving of the Time! =" $150,000 PURCHASE OF FURNITURE = The Entire Stock of James L. Walson & Co., Jobbers of Furniture and Carpets, Milwaukee, Wis., goes on sale AT 50c ON THE DOLLAR i@S"Fac Simile of the Contract with James L. Watson & Co. Bedroom Sets Bedroom Sets, 3 pieces, 20x Glass, Watson Price §14.00 QU price s von s iviEl i Bedroom Sets, 3 pieces, cheval x30 gl Watson price $25 Ouriprice s Bedroom Sets, solid oak, beveled glass, Watson $40/00) OUL'DLICS ¢yt v ais bev o Bedroom Sets, solid oak, very largeFrence plate mirror, Wat- son price $48.co, our price.... 24x30 [)l’lCC $60 AND 8§75 SETS AT 50 CENTS ON A DOLLAR. Sidehoards Sidr‘board solid oak, evel glass, Watson price $13, ourpnw Sideboards, solid oak, oval French plate mirror, Watson price $23, I o 3 B O S G0L OB O Sideboards, solid oak, swell front pattern French plate Watson price §40, our price. .. Sideboards, very large, handsome designs, Watson price $55.00 $75 AND $100 BOARDS AT 50 CENTS ON A DOLLAR. 14X24. Tomorrow at 8 a, m, Sfi.fifl |450 99.00 99.00 13 00 .00 00 3500 Cheap and Medium Priced SPECIA Gent furniture now date hereof LTIES. Milwaukee, Wis., on delivery of the goods, All urniture of all Kinds, Tur LARGEST BTock Ix 1uk Criy, 0 in our s at OFFICE A 4707 lemen: VWie agree to tores, amount to be paid as follows: and goods which dellvercd excepted. 50% of the net Messrs. Peoples’ Furniture and Carpet Co., Omaha, Neb. $5,000,00 cash on acceptance of this proposition, $45,000.00 Gane-Seat Ghairs and Reckers. Ch: cane seat, high back, ' Watson price $1.00 _Our price... 3 Chairs, cane s ‘Watson pri Our price. cane seat, son price. $1.7 Our price.... high back; $2.00 AND $3.00 ROCKERS AT 50¢c ON A DOLLAR. 10.00 worth O pen Monday and Saturday Evenings. 75.00 Worth— f 100,00 “worth— QUR TERMS: Cash or Monthly or Weekly Payments: :l.(tli dow nj‘.l)o weel, 00 dow 00 weel; week, %5.00 3 -00 weelk) X7.00 mo 2.50 W Jeoplesf sSce Our Fancy Rockers, maho Cur p: Fancy Rock solid oak, W Our $8.00 Fancy AND Rocker: wny finish, \\' pu. e 1 {Rpastry seat, o Parlor Suits, 5 pieces, any cover- ing, solid oak frames, \\'ulson$|5l00 PEICETS3 0/ OUTt PRICEI TR s et i Parlor Suits, 6 pieces, silk tapes- try, Watson price §48.00 2 100 Parlor Suit, 6 pieces, fine silk I Brocatelle, Watson ffrice $60. 00 -00 oty QR pHeal (Vo vbiuviuiinns va oo regre) i | Parlor Suits, handsome carved 00 Sept. 16th, 1895, frames, Watson price $753, 45! OUE PHES e n R w0 T $100 AND $150 SUITS AT 50 CENTS ON A DOLLAR sell you the entire stock of | | P i Nos. 688-70-72-74 High Street, invoice cost; said en er a es | Center Tables, solid oak, 18x18 top, Watson price ¢1.00, c © U pEICETISR RTINS v s e s tee e the balance in 30 days from Center Tables, solid oak, 24x24 top, Wats ice $2.00, may be already sold and not (;Er prlianprus OO o Bgc Center Tables, solid oak, fancy base, Watson price §2.50, c \d ul‘.u;ri( \I‘\ $4 AND $5 TABLES AT 50 CENTS ON A DOLLAR. .| Folding Beds. ; | $10 00 ROCKERS AT 50c OM A DOLLAR. Iron Beds, whit: emamel, brass trimmed, Watson price, $8.50, Our pr.ce ; 5 8, O\ oG AND $40 BRASS BEDS AT 50c ON A DOLLAR. So as to give every one an opportunity to attend § $30 Folding Beds, mantcl, open front, full size, w. nhml price, !r«ln 00, Our price ... .$1.50 § $12.50 § $15.00 § $28.00 § A DOLLAR. Folding Beds, mantel, in hard maple or ash, Watson price, $22.00, Our price... e Folding Beds, v Watson price, § Our pric pright, solid oak, 30.00, Folding Beds, upright, solid oak, Billing’s price, »nn 00, Our price $50.00 AND $75.00 BEDS AT 50c ON this grand sale our usual easy terms will prevail Windows. Cpen Monday and S aturday Evemngs. sSce Our Windonzs. calf is a_turtle shell. Woven in the halr are ors' legs adding a dismal accompani- stalks of grain and grasses, while down the % ack of the head drop white eagie plumes. The first division lines up against the The dance oceurs late in the afternoon on | house with its leader, the chief priest, stand- tho shaded side of the community Louse. Ang near the penncd in snakes. The second Only one successful photograph has ever been | division forms in line in front of the first. | made of the scene and that is the result of | Then rattles are shaken gently and eagle coutinuous efforts during ten years, It shows | feathers waved in unison. All join in a several dancers with the writhing snakes in | slow, measured chant, repeated a dozen i and companions at their side | times, and the wand bearers sway thelr bod- stroking the serpents with the wands of |fes Iu such a manner that from above the eagle feathers. The dance is on a small | line of their white head feathers look like made plateau or plaza and its course is |the sinuous motion of a scrawling serpent. around a rock highly venerated by the Mo- | When the refrain stops the chief priest prays quis. The house originally stood on the edge | 8loud, sprinkling the ground about the snake of a cliff. From a shelf below arose a small | den With water, und the second priest again rocky column to a height of fifty feet, but | Scatters corn meal from his platter. The in filing In to make the level dancing plaza | Members of the second division lock arms, the Moquis have burled about two-thirds of [ tWo by two, and as they slowly prance a the sacred rock. In a niche rests a stone | 5econd time around the sacred rock to a idol. A tepl to hold the snakes is made by | Girge-like chant of the first division they wrapping & buffalo robe around a frame. |0 through the motions of planting corn. A work reptiles are brought from the estufas in bags. The sacred rock and the roof of the adobe dwelling are covered with Moqui and visiting spectators. 4nd women with cottons, while many of the of cottonwood saplings in leat, and the | Party of all direct! Men are gay with gaudy blankets children are in their naked red. It is a | Members bright, hot day and the waterless valley | pIEE b below stretches away into the distance under | Do'd8 its the quivering air llke a yellow and brown [ The approach of the dancers is heralded by th the whirring of a sling. ON WITH THE DANCE. prayer, e rattle of gourds filled with corn and A barefooted old women and girls in white and scar- let mantles of cotton and wool marches into the plaza and scatters sacred corn meal in fons from flat baskets and platters. There is a short pause in the proceedings, as though it were a play of two acts. The of the second division file out of sight back of the rock, while the first still place against the wall of the house, The matrons and maids with the platters of meal form in line, partly encircling the sa- cred rock, and the chief priest intones a A SHOCKING SPECTACLE. The second division soon emerges from be- hind the sacred rock, again in double file, man with a crown of leaves emerges from |y no S06T6 POl caraad thél behind the sacred rock, sprinkling the | foniner w e x..ni‘.a"‘il‘é,‘"'i?é Sarrying ground with ‘‘medicine,” or holy water, £rom | writhing snakes, some in thelr hands and un earthen ters by several devotees gently shaking rattles. Then followed by an old man with a bow in one hand A few paces behind this party comes a sec- division, ond are rhe dish. A second old man scat- red corn meal. They are followed come & number of boys with rattles, and twirling a sling with the other. whose members bear wands others in their mouths. an ordinary spectator with fear and horror. The Indians at the right of the column are tickling the heads and necks of the slimy reptiles with the feather wands to distract their attention from the men carrying them. The dance is hardly a dance in the white It 1s a sight to fill man's se:nse. One foot is lifted until the of eagle feathers in both hands, and | knee approaches the wals, when It Is followed by another sling twirler. | stamped upon the ground,*to be followed devotees march solemnly once | by the other foot. In this manner, with aroun; ring, turtle d the sacred rock, with slings whir- rattles and gourds shaking and with shell and sheep toe ornaments on the cept for turtle sheils and sheep toes rattling, with elbows and cka bent, with bodies naked ex- the kilts, with the upper face black and the low and wher on the grou wand the secure: fro The Moquis are wrought up to strunge scatter, of frenzy b; meal squirming markable pro ured tread to the the serpents are spit out or dropped They are picked up by the who allow first division to hold them an instant, re handed (o the Bigh priest signs them to the buffalo hid As quickly as an Indian drops other, and on the sccoi the rear of the sacred rock every snake er has the wriggling reptile in his mouth. bearers, throwers nd y the white, Impotent marches with slow, farther with serpents rage, meas end of the plaza in the when the boys , who serpent he 1 appearance high pitch tacle, The their zeal spe and in dash the flour into the faces of the dancers or engag; shall _cover sacred meal. procession circles the sacred rock. the Again in a keen rivalry to determine who dropped snakes with the the welrd Some of and again the dancers try to outdo others by taking two ®nakes in their mouths. sneke colls the ground, are required to forcelit: to uncoil. ally a serpent makes a dart to escape, to sirike and the Frequently a vicious soon as it strikes veteran wand bearers Oceasion- and then there is a scampef in which the male spectators ol flylng meal in, throwers general hubbub. After the snakes and returned them twenty-foot dancers circle of and the shrill screams of the are heard above the have carried all the to their den, a corn meal is made in front of the sacred rock, The serpents are quickly transferred to this circle and meal, a short prayer. division then grasp the snakes in dart down the steep tralls with corn animals_and rocks. The march twice around the sacred rock, and The ered the chief priest says Moquis of the second handfuls, like frightened release the reptiles among the members of the first division stamp thelr feet, and the snake dance is done, This is not an account of a heathen cere- mony of Central Africa, thousand y. religlous service in these United States the year 1895 of a people who, of the courts be followed, rs ago. or of savages of a describes the chief in if the ruling may vote for a 1t president when Arizona is admitted to state- hood. White - who * va made a study of this snake dance generally of the opinfon that the fangs have not b drawn. Some think the serpents have been partially dazed with !'qu]\w-n * with which they have been fed or bathed. Others think the whole secret is |in the method of handling. It s said the dancers are seldom bitten by the reptiles, and it is generally believed the medicine men have effective antidotes of such acciden FRE TOLD O COURT. Incidents at Disturh Dignity of the Be “I once had a case in the ju in a little village up the coast,” remarked an attorney to the San Francisco Post man “The justice of the peace kept a saloon, and at the hour for holding court I dropped in at his place of business with opposing coun- the Plactd | sel and found him playing billiards with the constable ‘Where do you hold court, judge? 1 asked. “‘Right here. I can't afford to hire no court room.’ ‘ “Well, when, will you hear this case?" * ‘Right now.’ ( “I looked at the other attorney in a sur- | prised way, but he had evidently appeared | in that court before “‘Well, your honor, to exp:dite matters we will waive a jury,’'T said. All right. Is it my shot?' “We proceeded with the trial tice went on with his billlurds. to the Introduction of some without stopping his play, the “‘Objection sustained. Th: troze. Spot 'em up.' “Half a dozen teamsters dropped In and Qisturbed the trial. They were clamorous for-liquor, The justice lald his cue on the table and remarked “'Court will take a recess for ten minutes. t'll you have, gents?' 'he judge siashed the empty glass around in the bucket of water awhlle, wiped his hiids, picked up his cue, and ordersd “ Proceed with the case, gents. Whose shot is 1t? “I was in the middle of my argument when Go ahead with your case. and the jus- I objected evidence, and judge ruled: n balls are Wi | the constable attempted a masse shot. He | the feclings of these unfortunate gentlemen | hmml a hole In the cloth in_the jury Lox.” You are adjudged guilty of contempt of | Th: hlu hing cof muttered something caurt,” declared the judge, ‘and the judg- | ch ving nearly concluded went on ment of the court s that you pay a fine of y with )m argument. In a few minutes more ]85 or in default thereof serve five days in | the attention of the judge again wand red, the county jail. You want to get some | and he was ouce more aslecp, Ag the [ stickin’ pluster an’ fix that hole, too.’ | plaintift's counsel whispered - to ¢ ‘We concluded our argument and sub- | grapter, and again the stenographer nudged mitted the case, lis honor. “AW! yes," he gravely remarked **‘Hold on; you made only slx. Judgment | with a most composed and attentive air and for the defend And you took seven,' | without the remotest reference to what was | was the decision. being said by the speak I dare say there ! - is something in t ew of the case, Circult court was fn the midst of its semi- | j i LTI B annual session in a little county shire town, | moment, I will just step into the anteroom says Harper's Bazar. The month was July, | and consult Roscoe with reference to it 80 the hicat unbearable, the court routine power ng, he rose and went into the anteroom, fully sedative in its tendency. The very flies | wiere the stenographer, through the crack seemed affected, and buzzed about listlessly, | of the door, could plainly see him discussing clinging with sticky determination to the | yyo conte of a large and very wickesd look= perspiring featufes of the jurors until act- | jng hlack bottle. Coming ik In & few ms ! ually brushed away, then instantly returning, | ments, his honcr reeumed his seat romarie intent on further torture Ing, With & twinkle ip his eye: ‘'As T ana The counsel for the defendant, a young | ticipa Mr. B--, you are partly right In | man of limited oratory and stit more limited | your view of the matter. I have fust been ideas, was addressing the court, his constant | looking into Roscoe, and find that there is a repetitions, halting delivery, and indifferent | good deal fn it, though not so much as thcre logic only g to the misery of his sleepy | formerly was.” herais e aad Slore. w4 T iloPib8 | A “combination aflas and map of Trumbull gaged In making pencil sketches of tl Rublislied 8¢ Ghitago, Ml upusy S8 of L. H. E er story of ¢ in the year 1574, ot ans, rious human types in the court room. The learned fudge, after several consclentious at- | (¢lix 8 gueer story of early frontler Justies. - | tempts to ‘follow the argument, had been [ . The Bxel (riic RN S CEOIRCREY ‘and constrained to recognize the futility of the | 5 C-OrEaniaec Facy 00 BIEd, YAn HHet ow effort, and began to be absorbed in thought. | fORVicted & mad [oF SLERRE frem @ FE T ;f.'.‘l"hl“fi,"“‘;'v.L”.L’fi"“}‘ gently on his breast, | ¢ C%%i outeq of his apparel, tied to a tree, B LO0LTERS AN 000 | ana subjected to the bites of mosquitoes for Presently the plaintift's counsel noticed his | A0 sublectes Py s My g attitude, and approached the stenographer, | 1 period of ap howr. It was sooh G2 yho was sested on the platform with ":;‘ little or no blood left at the expiration of his JLOAATE iR WO AR, £0x e MG | term of punishment, and he was released at s 50 huk 0,08 & Darle t »H_‘:l' Par am "-'“ "8 | the end of the first half hour. He wes neven sake wake the judge e ntenographer | the end o6 FAG CERL D | Ieaned over and nudged the court, who, al-| e s A | though asicep, was not to be caught napping Buckien's Araics Salves One_eye slowly opened, then the other, and [ ypuo pe R E \d ; e best salve in world for cuts, in the most inatter-of-fact tone, as if his at- |y iy “ores, ulcers, salt rheum, fever sorom ;:\"" "“I‘” x:‘ 1“"" ol "(’"" L \-‘.vr\ 0808 "l‘ | tetter, chapped hands, chilblains, corns, and o this In ) e CIHE S el i s W iteed 10 and I can as vet see nothing approaching a | FNe VIR SUCRGUER 0% SOCTE SRt e termination. Do show some consideration Iurl & Co. —