Nov., 1903. OrAibi Summer Snake Ceremony — Voth. 339 



am inclined to believe that if any is used, it is used in a small quan- 

 tity, more as a charm, as which it is also used throughout the cere- 

 mony, than as an ingredient to produce vomisis. 



The men have in the mean while started to repair their moccasins, 

 kilts, head-dresses, etc. Some smoke, and here and there one takes a 

 nap. (See PI. 193.) All seem to be more or less sleepy after having 

 been up at an early hour on this and the preceding mornings. Even 

 the chief priest occasionally wraps himself up and enjoys a brief flight 

 into dreamland. Almost constantly one or more are smoking. 

 Towards noon all go out one after the other, pour some of the water 

 from the pots south of the kiva into bowls, go about a hundred yards 

 south of the kiva down the hill, and there wash their heads (see 

 PI. 194), after having converted the water into foaming suds with 

 mashed yucca roots. The kiva is swept, the refuse being carried out. 

 At about half-past eleven o'clock the chief priest sprinkles some dry 

 sand on the space between the fireplace and the east banquette, cover- 

 ing a space of about five feet square. The banquette is also covered 

 in the same way to the length of about five feet. Over the sand he 

 sprinkles some meal. Some bring in two broken jars, I think from 

 under a rock a few hundred yards southwest of the village. I under- 

 stand that these shards are remnants of pots and jugs in which snakes 

 have been kept on former occasions. In one of the shards suds of 

 yucca roots are prepared, into the other one clear water is poured, 

 whereupon both are placed on the floor south-west of the fireplace. 

 The water is taken from the pots outside. These preparations are 

 made for one of the most weird and unique rites throughout the cere- 

 mony, the washing, or baptizing, of the snakes. 



Pri nsely at noon the chief priest sends one of his men to announce 

 that all Uu the village must retire into their houses, as the washing of 

 the snakes is about to begin, I am told formerly this injunction was 

 very promptly and scrupulously heeded, but of late this seems to be 

 less so. ■ The men in the kiva are very solemn. When all is ready, 

 the older men squat down on the north side of the sand field, two or 

 three of the younger men on the south side east of the ladder," two 

 west of and close to the ladder opposite the two bowls or broken jars. 

 The large bag with the snakes is brought forward and placed in about 

 the center of the kfva, and one of the men takes a place near by 

 between the sack and the bowl with the yucca suds. All except the two 

 men near the bowls hold in their right hand their snake whips. Their 

 attire consists of the snake kilt and moccasins only. 



When all is ready, the man near the sack puts his right hand into- 

 the sack, draws forth a snake, and hands it to the man opposite the 



