The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1881-12-10
A TERRIBLE ORDEAL.


Mr. Frank H. Cushing, the young ex.
plorer sent out to investigate the inner
life of the Pueblo indians of New Mexico
by the Smithsonian Institute, and whose
remarkable chronological work at the
Pueblo of Zuni was described by Bos-
Ton Herald correspondent last Summer,
has written letter to personal friend
in Boston, telling about his imitation into
the principal order of the Zunis, an
achievement which will enable him to
gain knowledge of important facts
which would otherwise have remained
hidden. The Herald is permitted to
make the following extracts from the let
ter.
"Do you remember, he writes, men,
tion made of the Missionary of the Zunis?
of the prayers? ancient songs? unwritten
Bible! obsolete language, ETC., reposed in
the order of A-pith-lan- -shal-wa-nl, or
priesthood of the bow? and of my de.
sire, through securing scalp, to get
into this wonderful organization! The
scalps procured for me by my father
and officers Of the army were INSULT
cient in themselves for this purpose; but
the timely outbreak of the Apaches en-.
abled me to acquire another and far more
genuine article, with right and title to
possession. passed through country
constantly raided by Apaches for four
days and nights, and saw very effectually
fight between some ranchieros. More
over, a grand old rain poured down over
New Mexico-the valley of the Zuni in
particular and washed away the founda-
tions of the scalp-house, destroying all
save one Of the trophies of centuries of
Zuni valor My Pueblo brethern were,
therefore, ready for the story had to
tell them, made me bury my insignia OF
victory about two miles westward from
the Pueblo, guarded me all day, took me,
under cover of night, to the chamber Of
warriors, convened council, smoked
me, listened to my tale of blood and
thunder--refused absolutely my entrance
into the order-but consented to lister
to strong defensive speech from me, in
which I recalled former allusions tending
to my initiation, my services to the god.
in securing the trophies, my love of my
people, the sadness to think that while
A.pith-lan-shi-wa.nl, my heart would b.
always Zuni--as a bafled warrior
should return, forever severed from my
people, ere two moons pass, to Washing
ton. Here I was interrupted Fiftee,
minutes after the discussion as to which
clan should adopt me, the Parrot decided
and the vows of eternal fidelity to tn
Zuni and obedience to the rules of tn
order were administered. Then I wa
hustled off without warning, guarded b,
four warriors and two priests until morn
ing, taken out to the burial plane, wher
sham fight, with prayers, songs an
ceremonials, ensued. A pole was pro
duced, to it the scalps were hung; it wa
then presented to me, and at the head Q
my yelling gang, Twas marched to tn
vicinity of the gardens, where the pol
was planted; was perched, bare-headed
on sand hill filled with ants, compelle
to sit motionless in hot sun, watchin
my scalps until evening, when tn
prayers, embraces, comforting Of tn
sacred plume and adoption into the clan
took place; the pandemoniac four marche
round the pueblo, the killing of twent,
five or thirty dogs, and ere knew it
was hurried off to be baptized as ''Chil
of the Parrots, and Son of the Eagle,
locked up in the chamber of the warrior
sans fire, meat, oil, tobacco; taboo,
from touching any outside person
thing, from leaving my prison, looking
women, or laying aside single article
dress, night or day for four days. He
fearful those four slow days, with tn.
motionless sittings, their nights of on
five hours sleep, their emetics, sacrific.
ETC., etc. But I must stop here. ca
not describe the multitude of ceremoni,
which the ensuing twelve days broug
forth. can only say that, fresh in 4
memory as they are, they seem to me t
grandest, most interesting, weird q
terrible experiences and days my life !