THE SNAKE DANCE. 
297 
1851.] 
bound together with sipos, from thirty to forty feet long 
and about a foot in diameter, with a head of a bundle 
of leaves of the Umbooba {Cecropia), painted with bright 
red colour, making altogether a very formidable-looking 
reptile. They divided themselves into two parties of 
twelve or fifteen each, and lifting the snakes on their 
shoulders, began dancing. 
In the dance, they imitated the undulations of the ser- 
pent, raising the head and twisting the tail. They kept 
I advancing and retreating, keeping parallel to each other, 
I and every time coming nearer to the principal door of 
! the house. At length they brought the heads of the 
! snakes into the very door, but still retreated several 
times. Those within had now concluded their first 
dance, and after several more approaches, in came the 
i 
j snakes with a sudden rush, and, parting, went one on 
i the right side and one on the left. They still continued 
j the advancing and retreating step, till at length, each 
I having traversed a semicircle, they met face to face. 
Here the two snakes seemed inclined to fight, and it was 
i! only after many retreatings and brandishings of the head 
i| and tail, that they could muster resolution to rush past 
each other. After one or two more rounds, they passed 
i out to the outside of the house, and the dance, which 
!; had apparently much pleased all the spectators, was 
j concluded. 
i: During all this time caxiri was being abundantly sup- 
I plied, three men being constantly employed carrying it 
to the guests. They came one behind the other down 
i the middle of the house, with a large calabash-full in 
each hand, half stooping down, with a kind of running 
