Page 151 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND 143

After them comes another group of actors clothed
in ceremonial kilts and wearing helmet masks. They
are called the ' ' Stone War Club Kackinas ' ' and with
them are two men dressed as women; one, represent
ing the Spider Woman, dances before the fire with
graceful movements of the arms and body to the sound
of singing and the beat of a drum. At the close of
the dance she distributes seeds of corn, melons, and
useful plants.
The fourth act is that of the Maiden Corn Grinders.
First, two masked men bring down the ladder bundles
containing two grinding slabs and grinding stones and
arrange them on the floor. After them come two
masked girls in elaborate ceremonial attire, followed
in a little while by a line of masked dancers who form
the chorus. At a signal the chorus begins to sing and
posture while the maids grind corn in time with the
song. They then leave the mills and dance in the
middle of the room with graceful movements, point
ing at the audience with ears of corn, while the bear
ers of the mill stones put pinches of meal in the
mouths of the spectators.
The fifth act is somewhat like the first, except that
there are two huge snakes, and several of the actors as
chorus, with knobs of mud on their masks, wrestle with
the snakes in a most realistic fashion and afford great
entertainment.
After this act another set of performers gives a
more remarkable serpent drama. Back of the field of