Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-12-21
A Terrible Ordeal.


Do you remember, says Frank H. Cush-
ing, the mention made OF the Ma
sOury OF the Zunis, in New Mexicn, OF
the prayers, ancient songs, unwritten Bible,
obsolete language, etc, reposcd in the or
der of A-pith ian-shi-wa-ni. or Priesthood
of the Bow and of my desire, through se-
curing a scalp to get into this wonderful
organization The scalps procured for
me by my father and the officers of the
army were insufficient in themselves for
this purpose; but the timely outbreak OF
the Apaches enabled me to acquire another
snd far more genuine article, with right
and title of possession l passed through a
country constantly raided by Apaches for
four days and nights, and saw very effect
ually n fight between them and some
rancheros. Moreover grand old rain
poured down over New Mexico-the valley
of the Zupi in particular washed away
the foundation of the scalp house. destroy
ing all save one OF the trophies OF centuries
of Zuni valor. My Pueblo brethren were
therefore ready fer the story l had to tell
them, made me buy my insignia OF victory
about tv miles westward from the Pueblo,
guarded me all day, and took me under
cover of night to the chamber Of warriors,
convened q council, listened 10 my tale OF
blood and thunder, refused abso. .utely my
entrance into the order, but consented to
listen to a strong defensive speech from
me. in which / recalled former illusions
tending my initiation, my service to the
gods in securing the trophies, my love for
my people, the sadness to while as A-pith-
lan-sh,-wa-ni my heart would be always
Zuni-as a baffied warrior should return,
forever severed from nv people, ere two
moons pass, to Washington. Here l was
interrupted Fifteen minutes after the dis
cusslon as to which clans should adopt
me, the Parrot decided, and the vows of
eternal fidelity TO Zuni and obedience TO
the rules of the order were administered.
Then was hustled eff without warning,
guarded by four Warriors and two priests
until morning, taken out to the burial
place, where sham fight, with prayers,
songs and ceremonials, ensued- A poie
was produced; to it the scalps were hung;
1t was then presented TO me, and, at the
head OF my yelling gang, was marched to
the vicinity Of the gardens, where the pole
was planted; was percbed bare-headed,
on a sand hill filled with ants, compelled
10 sit motionlefs IN the hot sun, watching
my scalps until evening; then the prayers,
embraces, conferring of the sacred plume,
and adoption into the clans took place; the
pandemoniac four marches ronnd the
Pueblo, the killing of twenty-five or thirty
dogs, and ere knew 1t | was hurried of
to be baptised as child OF the parrots,
and son of the eagles locked up IN the
chamber OF the warriors, sans fire, meat.
oil, tobacco; tabooeJ from touching any
outside person or thing, from leaving my
prison, looking at women or laying aside
a single article of dress, night or day, for
four days. How fearful those four slow
dsys with their motionless sittIngs, their
nights of only five hours sleep, tker
emetics, sacrifices, etc. But l must stop
here. | can not describe the multitude of
ceremonials which the ensuing twelve days
brought forth. can only say that, fresh
In my memory as they are, they seem to
me the gTandest most Interesting, weird
and terrible experiences and days my life
has ever seen, and open up the sub-dep,hs
of meaning my researches in Zuni."
Eighteen years have changed the posi-
bilities of my life and labors, aud opened
up new significance to the study of In
dian ethnology. 1t may be that when l
see you can tell you more about this. But
can only add now that have told you
the mere beginning and least interesting
part Of my experiences These have re-
vcaled to me the fact that all my previous
work amounts to nothing as compared to
tI. ofh ham for m Ind ana 40 q
already compelled me to learn by heart five
ancient prayers, and commit to paper for
memorizstion as many more with s)ngs
and rules for conduct ss member OF the
order, all Of which you will remember, l
was using every effort to get hold of, and
had about despaired CT recording"