Show HOPIS PERFORM WIERD SNAKE DANCE idaho statesman walpi arizona snake and antelope priests of the hopi tribe descended into their underground kivas recently to perform secret rites rite s of the he nine day caremon bals which concluded sunday august 25 with the snake dance a thou thousand and year old prayer for rain with prayers sand jalli paintings tings and wierd hant aal mes the priests held rites which no white man has ever witnessed runners went into the desert to gather snakes and carry prayers of the hopis chopis to ti the under underground gound gods the snakes the chopis hopis believe are t fie be g gua u indians ird radians ians of the springs and to the gods who rule the rain clouds chodai the snake oance most wierd of S southwestern indian rites is is the oldest dance of the hopi tribe raving been performed annually without interruption for thousand years tb the hapli are convinced their prayers have invoked the pleasure of the tal ar for lit invariably variably rain has followed within vi thin 2416 24 hours urs |