ANCESTOR WORSHIP — FEWKES. 



503 



sonations have as authority the recorded legend of the Snake Hero, 

 an account of whose adventures in the underworld when he first saw 

 the Snake Maid and brought her a bride to the upper world is 

 found in the author's account of the Snake Ceremonials at Walpi. 

 These personages do not appear openly in the public exercises of 

 the Snake Dance, but stand back of the antelope altar in the kiva 

 where the priests with songs and prayers consecrate their prayer 



e. Mocking bird. 



ft. Hawk. 



f. Owl. h. Wasp. 



Fig. 7. — Indian pictures of Katcinas. 



offerings to the rain and other gods of the cardinal points. The 

 reptiles are not worshipped as ancestors, but as " others of the clan " 

 who from their mysterious character and the fact that they are sup- 

 posed to be more powerful than the living members of the clan, are 

 entreated to intensify the prayers of their brethren. The cere- 

 monials now performed as secret rites in the Antelope kiva are 

 supposed to resemble those the Snake Hero witnessed and learned 

 when he visited the underworld and obtained his bride. 



