Excerpt from A Journal of American Ethnology and Archaeology, 1892, Vol. 2<br><br>Many circumstances were favorable to success in immediate work at the Tusayan pueblos. In the present year (1891) occurred the biennial celebration of the weird Snake Dance, which had never been carefully studied. Rumor had it that the natives were to be moved down from their homes on the mesa tops into the plain, and that fami lies were to be separated. It was believed that if this were done their aboriginal celebrations would soon come to an end; for separation would have a most important influence in breaking up the traditional religious ceremonies of these people.<br><br>A late visit of the chiefs to Washington, and the accounts of their adventures which they brought back, had also exerted an influence which rendered an early visit for study advantageous. The friendly way in which these Indians are treated by the whites with whom they are associated, the protection from the encroaching Navajos which the government had given, Increased the probability of living very near to them. From a brief reconnaissance in 1890 I was convinced that it would not be difficult to gain admission to the sacred ceremonials which are performed in secret. Accordingly in May of the present year I began my work, which was continued through the summer months and late into September.<br><br>About the Publisher<br><br>Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com<br><br>This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.