Identifier: annualreportofbu219smit (find matches)
Title: Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Ethnology
Subjects: Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Ethnology Ethnology Indians
Publisher: Washington : U. S. Govt. Print. Off.
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Kahle/Austin Foundation and Omidyar Network

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g whom he isconspicuous, but he does not appear associated with them in variantsof the Snake dances which have been studied in other Hopi pueblos.In the Walpi snake washing, when the Snake chief deposits on thesand the bowl in which the reptiles are washed, he makes four rain-cloud .symbols. At Mishongnovi the chief simply draws six radiatinglines of meal, but it would seem that the intent was the same in ))othinstances, the Middle mesa practice being perhaps more ancient. AiMi.shongnovi it was not noticed whether a bandolier was placed underthe basin in which the snakes were washed, as is the case at Walpi. 1 Many of the bandoliers were decorated with rows c small cones, the spines of shells identicalwith spccinictis which are occasionally dug from r lins along Little Colorado river. The conusshell, from which Inese are made, is found in ruins alont; the Gila, and was used as an ornament,or, fastened with others to a stick, served as a rattle to bent time in rhythm with sacred songs.
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FEWKEs) PUBLIC SNAKE DANCE AT MISHONGNOVI 973 The idea which underlies the washing of the reptiles in the Snakedance is that of bodily puritication or lustration, and probably sprangfrom a belief in a totemic relationship between reptiles and the Snakeclan. It can be explained on the theory that the reptiles, as elderbrothers and members of the same Snake clan, need puritication bywater as an essential act in preparation for the ceremonials in whichthey later participate. On the morning of the ninth day of the Snake dance all priests ofthe Snake society and all members of the Snake clan bathe their headsin preparation for the ceremony. The reptiles, or elder members ofthe same clan, have been gathered from tht> tields and brought to thepueblo to participate in this the great festival of their family, and it isboth fitting and necessary that their heads, like those of the jii-iests,.should be washed on this day. The ceremonial washing of the reptilesis therefore perfectly logical on

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