Black Bear, Turkey, Rattlesnake, and all the animals living upon
the earth who are in charge of the various fruits came together
in one place. They celebrated the medicine dance for the benefit
of three sick men. Having made the fence about the dancing
grounds, they spread a buffalo hide over a basket in the back of
the tipi where a hole had been dug. They took the moccasins of
the three sick men and tied them together. With these they beat
upon the basket which had been turned over the hole in the back
of the tent and covered with a buffalo hide. The singer uses a
rattle made from buffalo tail and the tails of rattlesnakes.
While a strong man is beating on the basket with the moccasins,
the singer shakes the rattles and sings. This is done for four
nights. A long time ago a ceremony of this sort was held this
side (west) of Taos where the mountains stand near each other.
The fence was built of brush through which no one is allowed to
look from the outside. Someone beat with the moccasins and the
others dance