Page 150 - TheHopiIndians

142 MESA FOLK OP HOPILAND

feet of the painted body can be seen. Then as the
song grows louder the plumed snakes sway in time to
the music, biting at each other and darting toward
the actors. Suddenly they bend their heads down and
sweep the imitation cornfield into a confused heap,
then raise their wagging heads as before, and it is seen
that the central serpent has udders and suckles the
others. Amid the roars of the horn and great excite
ment offerings of meal and prayers are made to the
plumed serpents. The actor dressed as a woman and
who represents the mother of the Kachinas now pre
sents the corn and meal to the serpents as food and
offers his breasts to them.
Now the song diminishes, the effigies are drawn
back, and the flaps with the sun symbol painted on
them let down ; the blankets are again held around the
fire, the spectacle is dismantled, the actors file out, and
the people among whom the corn hills have been dis
tributed wait for other actors to appear, while foreign
visitors wonder at the mechanical skill displayed in
constructing and manipulating the effigies.
Now Tewan actors from Hano give a remarkable
buffalo dance. They wear helmets, representing buf
falo heads, and are clad in black sheep pelts. In
their hands they hold zigzag lightning wands, and to
the beat of a drum dance with characteristic postures ;
with them dance a man and boy dressed as eagles,
who give forth shrill bird calls. This dance is an in
troduction from Rio Grande Pueblos.