FEWKES] THE ORAIBI SNAKE DANCE 295 
sacred meal, says a prayer, casts a pinch to the setting sun, sprinkles 
a little on the head of the reptile, and suddenly grasps the snake back 
of the head. The gatherers collect the snakes whenever dropped by 
the carriers, and hold them in their hands as the others are borne 
about the plaza. 
The women did not stand in line and sprinkle the Snake priests with 
meal as they passed with their burdens, but when the reptiles were 
thrown in a heap, after the dance, both maids and matrons emptied 
trays of meal upon the snakes on the ground. 
After all the reptiles had been carried about the plaza in the way 
indicated above, they were thrown in the middle of a ring of sacred 
meal, marked with six radii, also of meal, corresponding to the cardinal 
points, the zenith, and the nadir. Atasignal the Snake priests rushed 
to the circle, seized all the snakes they could gather, and darted off 
with them down the mesa sides to the four quarters, where the reptiles 
were deposited. Later they returned, divested themselves of their 
seanty clothing, retired to a secluded spot, bathed, took an emetic (?), 
and vomited. The Antelopes meanwhile made four circuits in front of 
the kisi and retired to their kiva. As at Walpi, the Snake men feasted 
at nightfall, not having tasted food on the day of the dance. 
In reviewing the details of the Snake dance at Oraibi, as described 
above, we are impressed, first, with the small number of participants, 
eleven Antelope and fifteen Snake priests; secondly, with the peculiar 
manner of carrying the reptiles; and, thirdly, with the lack of brillianey 
in the personal adornment of the performers. The entrance of the Snake 
chief, Kopeli, at Walpi, followed by his band, is a most striking affair, 
full of life and startling in character. At Oraibi this part is very 
tame in comparison, without dash or excitement, and fails in vigor, 
energy, and power. The number of participants at Oraibi, not a third 
of those at Walpi, is also disappointing to one who has seen the dance 
at the East Mesa. I can, however, well believe that the Oraibi Snake 
dance more closely resembles that of Walpi before the advent of so 
many visitors, than does the present exhibition at the latter pueblo. 
Everything at Walpi shows a vigorous cult, a popular society, an 
earnestness as great as at Oraibi, but the primitive character of the 
whole is somewhat spoiled by the introduction of gaudy ribbons, orna- 
ments, and personal decorations purchased from the trader. 
