Pasquala

Chapter 3: The Rattle Snake Basket

Rattlesnake

A venomous snake

Sedge roots

A grasslike plant root

awl

a small pointed tool used for piercing holes, esp. in leather.

Small coil

a length of something wound or arranged in a spiral or sequence of rings.

stitch

a loop of thread or yarn resulting from a single pass or movement of the needle in sewing, knitting, or crocheting.

Quail

State bird of California

Ground dwelling bird

Water skater

Water bug that looks like a big mosquito.

Coax

Persuade someone gradually or by flattery to do something.

He used a stick to coax the viper into the narrow neck of the basket.

Why did the Yokuts have a rattlesnake

ceremony each spring? Why do you think Pasquala’s mother was

asked to make the basket for the rattlesnake ceremony?

Describe the Yokuts’ rattlesnake ceremony. Tell how you think Pasquala felt when she put her foot over the basket with the rattlesnake in it. How would you feel?

Questions

1) The Yokuts rattlesnake ceremony was performed before

the hot weather of summer when the rattlesnakes would be the most active. The ceremony protected the people from rattlesnake bites.

2) Pasquala’s mother was probably one of the best basket makers in the village.

3)In the rattlesnake ceremony, the rattlesnake doctor picked the largest rattlesnake and put it in Pasquala’s mother’s basket. He does a dance and lift the snake over everyone’s head. People would dance and the snake would not bite the people. Pasquala felt very frightened by the rattlesnake. If it was me, I would also be very scared.

Answers