INDIAN DANCES OF THE SOUTHWEST 
cannot be seen by outsiders and must 
be studied from information and native 
drawings, still similar ones are danced 
in the open in the Hopi villages of 
Arizona. The dramatic instinct comes 
out strongly in some of 
these secret dances. This 
is particularly true of 
the ceremonies preceding 
the arrival of the masked 
dancers who represent 
mythological beings. 
These mythological be- 
ings are supposed to live 
in the under world and 
to come up through lakes 
and springs when they 
visit the upper world. 
The  Chiffoneti or 
clowns are the inter- 
mediaries between mor- 
tals and these gods. 
The caciques deter- 
mine when a _ masked 
dance is to,be held, and 
they select the dancers. 
The latter are locked up 
for four days and puri- 
fied by fasting and ablu- 
tion. At the appointed 
time all the villagers go 
to the underground lodge 
and seat themselves in 
readiness for the per- 
formance. Soon two 
clowns appear at the 
hatchway in the roof 
and come down the lad- 
der. They make merry 
with the — spectators. 
Then one says to the 
other, “My brother, 
from what lake shall we 
get our masked dancers 
to-night?” “Oh, I don’t 
know. Let’s try Dawn 
Cafion Lake. Maybe 
Indians, 1893. 
113 
some Cloud People are stopping there.” 
Then one clown takes some ashes from 
the fireplace and blows it out in front 
of him. “Look brother,” he says, “do 
you see any Cloud People?” They 
-Photo by BE. W. 
One of the side dancers in the Buffalo Dance, San Ildefonso Pueblo 
Deming 
A buffalo horn on one side and three eagle feathers on 
the other decorate the head. 
magical devices supposed to aid in the hunting of buffalo 
The crosses painted on the body are 
