Pasquala

1. Pasquala Chapter 3: The Rattle Snake Basket

2. Rattlesnake • A venomous snake

3. Sedge roots A grasslike plant root

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

5. Small coil • a length of something wound or arranged in a spiral or sequence of rings.

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

7. Quail • State bird of California • Ground dwelling bird

8. Water skater • Water bug that looks like a big mosquito.

9. 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.

10. Questions • 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?

11. Answers • 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.