FEWKES] FURTHER RESEARCH ESSENTIAL esalel 
Thave no doubt that at some future time enough material will be col- 
lected to enable the ethnologist to give a rational explanation of the 
meaning of the Snake dance from comparative studies, but I doubt 
very much whether the Tusayan priests now know its original meaning. 
The trail for the ethnographer is, however, plain; it is highly essential 
that renewed efforts be made to record more accurately than has yet 
been done the unknown details of the Tusayan Snake dance before it 
is finally abandoned or transformed by modifications. Whatever cur- 
rent explanations are now regarded as orthodox by the priests should 
be given weight as evidence, but not regarded as decisive. 
Of more than usual interest in a study of the distribution of the 
Snake ceremonials is the following reference, which I quote without 
comment: 
It was discovered [that] the Cocopahs, like the Moquis of Arizona, practice the 
Snake Dance ceremony. Not far from their village is an old adobe house especially 
constructed for this purpose. Here they annually resort, to avoid publicity, to have 
their Snake dance. Rattlesnakes are taken to this house, where the people of the 
Snake clan congregate and perform their hazardous céremony. (From letter in 
Chicago Tribune, dated Pomona, Cal., October 31, 1895?) 
