Object Number: Eb430

Collection: World Cultures

Object Name: photograph

Description: Mounted sepia print with oval image at centre. It shows 'Snake Dance of the Moquis, Village of Oraibii, Arizona. Aug 22nd 1898. Photo & Copyright 1899 by Ben Wittick, Gallup N.M. no 701' On an open space with a village building in the background, a line of men hoding feathers lean forwards. Each man wears a dark patterned loincloth, knee bands, mocassins, necklaces, armbands, with white paint on the back, legs and arms. Each man has feather decorations in their hair. Facing them, watching by a grass and leaf shelter, is a line of men, including achild, wearing white loincloths, dark kneebands, white paint on legs and zigzag on backs, with ?fox skins hanging at back from a belt. People are standing and sitting watching. The majority seem to be Oraibi Indian, but the pair closest to the lines of dancers are a white man and woman. On verso, stamped photographer's name: BEN WITTICK Photographer & Ethnologist CHARACTER PICTURES OF ALL THE INDIANS OF THE SOUTH-WEST, ETC Gallup, N.M.