The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-07-07
AZTEC MYSTERIES.
RECENT IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES BY i
YOUNG AMERICAN.

ian Institute about two years ago to in
vestigate among the Pueblos of New
Mexico the customs and histories of the
natives. The letter says:
Gas result of Mr.. Cushing's labors
Aztec history viii have to be rewritten.
Much of what has hitherto been received
as such falls to the ground, mass of
rubbish. There are no other people so
distrustful Of strangers as are the Indi-
ans, so reticent about everything con-
corning themselves. Therefore, when
questioned by strangers about their re-
ligion, their past and their traditions,
they have answered, to be sure, but their
answers, accepted as sober truth, have
been uniformly pack of very ready and
ingenious lies. Mr.. Gushing, therefore,
adopted the only sensible method of
getting at the bottom facts: that of be-
coming one with the Zunis, learning
their language and living with them.-
Hence, we see him, slender, light COM
plexioned young mamie is not twenty
four years old-with long flowing blonde
hair, confined by the Indian head band,
and dressed in the picturesque costume
of the tribe, every article of native man
ufacture from the cloth of the dark blue
woollen serape-shirt, the buckskin knee
breeches, long dark blue stockings,
leather moccasins and artistically embroi-
dered sash, to the rows of silver buttons
and other richly worked silver ornaments
that adorn his dress, and the precious
ancient necklace from mysterious cave
of relics up in the mountains. This dress
he wears on all occasions, even when vis-
iting Fort Wingate, for, should he be
seen in citizens garb by his adopted
brethren, their confidence in his sincerity
as a Zuni would be shaken. He has
gained his cause by the use of pluck, tact
and adaptability to circumstances worthy
both a general and diplomatist. In the
first place he put himself at their mercy
and entirely in their power. Sayages
finding stranger under such circum-
stances seldom fail to be merciful. Thus
gaining their confidence by his helpless
ness, Mr.. Gushing was made one of them
and formely adopted into the tribe Of
the Zuni. Gradually gaining influence
among them, he has obtained admission
to their most secret councils, and has
second man Of influence in their city,
standing next to their governor in author
ity.
mastering their language thoroughly
and scientifically, the knowledge of this
has produced the key that had unlocked
a treasure house, the opening of whose
doors has placed in his possession store
Of such wonderful fact as to justify the
application of that much abused term,
astounding revelations" Mr.. Gushing
has, in the study of the Zuni religion,
found for certainty that the worship and
traditions of Montezuma-so long ac-
cepted in all accounts of the Aztecs-
have no foundation in fact, and that
Montezuma was never heard of. But
he has discovered mine of Hydrologic
al lore, beliefs and superstitions, gods
and spirits, that throw the full light of
day on the mysteries of the Aztec reli-
gion.
Among other wonderful things is the
existence Of twelve sacred orders, with
their priests, and their secret rites as
carefully guarded as the secrets of freem-
asonry, an institution to which these or
ders have strange resemblance. Into
several of these orders he has been in
itiated, and has penetrated to their in
most secrets, obtaining knowledge of
cermonials both beautiful, profound and
grotesque in character. But the most
marvellous thing which he has discover
ed IN connection with their religion is
the grand fact that their faith is the same
thing as modern spiritualism. The Zunis
have their circles, their mediums, their
communications from the spirit world,
their materializations- precisely like
those of the spiritists of civilized life.
Their seances are often so absorbing
that they are kept up all night. Their
belief in the phenomena explains many
strange things about their religion which
Mr.. Cushing was unable to account for
until he hit upon it-they had kept it
guarded months after he was
on most intimate terms with them-by
telling them about certain spiritistic
phenomena he had witnessed, thus gain
ing their sympathy as apparently a fel.
low believer.
''Thelr language has proved most
interesting study. It is thoroughly |
grammatical; and has a finely arranged |
system of declensiols and lenses. The |
Zunis are most careful to teach their |
children to speak correctly, and drill |
them thoroughly. They have words of |
grammatical and 'ungrammaticaI, |
good talking and bad talking literally |
translated. Strange to say, they have |
an ancient or classic language, Just as |
English has its Anglo Saxon. This dead |
language has been handed down in their |
religious rites, and is, for the most part. |
known only by the priests. Many of |
their sacred songs are worded in it, and |
these are of unknown antiquity. This
is striking Illustration OF the conservat-
We influence OF religion in preserving the
of the past. There is a good |
for an analogy between the
preservation Of this ancient aboriginal
tongue by the zuni priests and the hand
ing down of the Latin by the Catholic
church. What field for philoIosists
here!