Fig. 39.
Dance of the Mudheads at Zuni
The Mudheads represent the primitive people before men became quite men. They are the clowns of the village. During the RAIN DANCE, they had capered about irresponsibly, but now proceeded to have a dance all their own.
There were ten of them, costumed as follows: Bodies painted with a light tan clay; each wore a square of black cloth about the neck, and another, a little larger, wrapped around the waistline and hanging to mid-thigh as a breech clout. Most of these were tied about the waist by a rope; one had a rope over the right shoulder, holding up his cloth, more or less inadequately.
The distinctive feature of the Mudhead is the mask. This covers the entire head, front and back, and is made of stockinette, the same tan clay color as their bodies. On the middle of the top is a stuffed bunch about the size of a small orange; one for each ear, one at the middle of the back, and one at the middle of the forehead. For the eyes,
9o
there are small holes, with the material of the mask rolled back in a thick circle; similarly a little larger one for the mouth, all three looking exactly like doughnuts, badly baked. A couple had thin horns, also of
the stockinette, about three inches long and finger-thick, one over each ear. (Fig. 39.) The leader had a small, soft feather on the left horn. Bach carried a rattle; and one Indian in everyday dress, beat the drum.
Standing in a line, one behind the other, the Mudheads shook their rattles in time to the drum, so: I'-2-3-4-5-rest; i'-2-3-4-S-rest; i'-2-3-4f-rest; I'-2-3 ; i'-2-3.
Now they started to progress forward to this beat, with the single trot-step, varied once in a while with double time for four beats. The rattles sometimes kept the double beat, sometimes beat a steady roll.
At intervals, the whole line faced left-or what would be the center if it were a circle; then back into a line behind each other again.
In about ten minutes, they had completed the circuit of the quadrangle, and the dance ended.
Site Contents
[Warning: Large File]
