PREFACE. 



The possibility of the preparation of this account of the Mishong- 

 novi Snake and Antelope ceremonies is due in a certain sense to cir- 

 cumstances which seem almost accidental. I left Chicago late in July 

 for the Southwest, for the purpose of making a hasty visit to certain 

 Rio Grande pueblos of New Mexico and then of noting the progress 

 of the excavations which Mr. C. L. Owen, Assistant Curator of this 

 Department, was making in the ancient burial grounds of old Walpi 

 and other Hopi ruins. Incidentally, I had expected to witness the 

 final public performance of the Snake and Antelope Societies at Walpi. 

 On arriving at Tusayan, however, I found that Mr. Owen had removed 

 his camp from Walpi to Toreva (see PI. LXXVI), a spring at the foot 

 of the Middle Mesa, near the present pueblo of Mishongnovi (see PI. 

 LXXV), and was finishing the work of excavating in the burial ground 

 of ancient Mishongnovi which had been begun on the previous season. 

 Hearing, furthermore, that the Snake and Antelope Fraternities of 

 Mishongnovi were to begin their celebration within a few days I 

 decided to remain and witness, if possible, the entire performance. 1 

 at once sent an invitation to Mr. H. R. Voth of Oraibi to join me in 

 a study of the ceremonies, which Mr. Voth very kindly accepted. He 

 arrived on the second ceremonial day and remained at Mishongnovi, 

 with the exception of about a day, thcoughout the remaining eight 

 days. It is perhaps needless to say that without Mr. Voth's coopera- 

 tion this account would not have been possible. 



Although the priests of Mishongnovi are among the most con- 

 servative of all Hopi villages, yet, on presenting to the leaders of the 

 two fraternities the object of our desire to witness in full their cere- 

 monies, we were not only given permission to enter the kivas at all 

 times, but were made to feel that we were welcome. Later, when they 

 fully realized that we were watching them constantly and were not 

 only making notes of our observations but were photographing as 

 well, they not only did not offer any objections, but in many ways 

 assisted us, declaring that they wished us to have the truth and the 

 whole truth about their performances. This friendly attitude, which 

 gradually extended to the entire priesthood of both orders, made our 

 work extremely agreeable, and the constant attendance upon the cere- 



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