The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-06-28
AMONG TH1 zUHIs.
A Scientists Life Among the In
dams Of New llexloo.

From the Chicago Times.
a reporter for the Times held al
interview yesterday at the Crane
Pacific Hotel with a gentleman wht
has for several months been amons
the Indians Of New Mexico and Ari
zoDia.
In the curse Of the conversation {
description was obtained Of . singular
character who is now and has beer
three years living among the people
caIlesl the Zunis. He is not an out
east from his race, but gentleman in
every sense of the word-a scbola. OF
;iue scientific requirements, an artist
uf no Insignificant merit. and possessed
withal of youth. good looks and re.
fined manners. Notwithstanding Ill
these advantages he has turned hi.
hack upon the circles Of society to
which they would naturally have
siven him entrance. and devoted him.
self with heroic forIitude to the scqui.
>ition Of the language Of the Zunis
and an insight into their secret relig-
ious ceremonies and traditions.
The Zunis, who inhabit q section Of
country in the western part Of New
Mexico, near the Rio Colorado Chiyin-
to. have been known to explorers and
referred to by them since some time
in the FIRST half Of the fifteenth CEN
fury, when little handful Of Roman
Catholic missionaries first attempted
To penetrate the veil which secluded
them from the knowledge Of the out
side world; yet, although over three
have since elapsed. the Zunis
are less known and less understood
to day than If they were dwellers in
the centre Of Africa. To dispel the
mystery Of their surroundings was the
task imposed upon himself by Mr..
Frank Cushing, of Washington, ID.
g.; aud with what success his efforts
have been crowned the public will
soon know from his vOluminOus notes.
which should before long be ready
for admission to the public. Mr..
Gushing has undergone great trials. but
has never for a moment faltered in
the work laid out for himself. A viO-
rent attack Of pneumonia brought
him to deaths door. but the moment
he recovered sufficient strength to re-
sumo his drawings and notes he ap-
Dlied himself with renewed diligence
I, make up for lost time during the
weeks Of sickness. His work will Gre
ate sensation in the scientific world,
besides aiiording reliable but thrill
iingly interesting reading to the gen.
eral public. Mr.. Cushing has not
only been formally adopted into the
Zuni tribe. but has succeeded in being
to their secret religious cere-
never before seen by any man
not by birth u Zuni.
The character Of bis work may be
Judged from what the Times inform
ant stated about this singular race.
They are skilful farmers and raise BY
irrigation good crops Of vegetables and
besides having orchards of
peach trees. Large aocks of sheep
and goats give them the materials for
valuable blankets and wooden
garments, and their skill in the fabri.
cation Of pottery, basketware and sill
yer ornaments has long been q source
Of admiration to officers Of the army
and others brought in contact with
them.
Mr.. Cushing il one of those modest.
retiring spirits who prefer to let their
work speak for them for which rea-
son, perhaps, be has not occupied q
more prominent place in the estima-
ton of the world. Such men, how
ever, can not long be held down. and
If his health is spared to enable him
to compile and arrange his notes and
sketches there is no doubt Mr.. Cush-
ing will at once take q stand in this
branch Of science which has not been
BY anyone in America since
the days of the old French and Span.
ish missionaries, whose plan Of actually
living with and among the Indians
Mr.. Cushing seems to have initiated.
and whose careful and scholarly meth
Il 81 >~...~:. L. >l~.S>l