Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-05-11
Adjoining the Sunrise sea.

Perhaps three centuries ago the wild =
erness bcIderlng on Massachusetts was the
scene OF as weird and uncanny form OF
idolatry as was recently revived by band
of aborigines. Six chiefs of the Zuni ma
ton have made a pilgrimage from their
home. New Mexico, TO the "Ocean of the
Sunrise, TO pay homage 10 the god OF the
waters, one of their principal deitles For
1875 years their supply of holy water from
the great sea had not been replenished, and
the chiefs and medicine men were sent on
The long journey TO propitiate the Great
Spirit and implore his continued favor.
They are accompanied BY Prof. Frank II.
Cushing of The Smithsonian Institution,
who some years ago went among them TO
study their habits and traditions So
fascinated did he become that to assist in
his investigations he made himself one of
them and was adopted by a chief. he
participated in the cermony, ald acted as
interpreter for the Zlnis. The savages
are remarkably fine looking men for In
dians, and they have been the objects OF
much interest and attention during their
stay.
The Mayor rendered the city steame. for
the ceremony, and at 2 o'clock a crowd Of
200 or more persons sailed for Deer Island.
When the boat fairly got into the stream
and the harbor broadeued out IN their view
the Indians, awestruck by the sight of so
much water, began to humble prayers TO
the God of the Ocean and chant sacred
songs, scattering at the same time to the
winds ami waves pinches of consecrated
10 0f I'LL
mingled with powdered white corn. Thus
they offered, as their religion teaches, the
seas Or ducts to the sea itself, and also
the grain, which is to them the symbol of
terrestrial life.
The director of their wanderlngs in the
strange land of the East vainly attempted
to convince them that the water upon
which they then were was not the unim-
liable deep of whicn they had heard from
the traditions preserved In their tribe
They continued their prayers and scatter
ing of meal for considerable time, after
which they looked upon the water and
vessels about them with a quiet wonder
that seemed too deep for expression.
AS the steamer approached Deer Island,
Mr. Gushing put on his Indian dress and
made prepaI atoms to take his charge on
shore. The wind blew half gale and was
nipplng and chill, but the sky was clear,
the air invig Grating, and the scene unusu-
ally beautiful. The waves were smoothed
by the wind that blew off the shore, and
the tide was rising as the Indians reached
the two tents which had been pitched for
them on the shore of the Oce of Sunrise.
L. lnw @f h.
and Mr.. Cushing retired to prepare them
selves for the ceremonies. When they
emerged upon the sand they betook them
selves with solemn step to the shore, fol-
lowed by the crowd.
A stranger processlod never appeared
herea5outs.
First came several policemen, who at
tempted to keep the crowd in ordel, and
shouted loudly to it all the time to "keep
back" which, as usual, the crowd did not
do.
Then came Mr.. Cushing clad in a blue
shirt of native cloth, buckskin -leggings
and moccasins decorated with silver but
tons, crescents, and buckles, strings OF
beads, and shell bracelets. He wore upon
upon his head a bearskIn cap, somewhat
like Robinson Crusoe's traditional head
gear, with number of feathers stuck into
the side of 1t, and was agreeably decora-
ted with streak of black paint. which
ran under bosh eyes and across his nose,
while large spot of the same appeared on
each cheek.
The chiefs were dressed like Mr.. Cush-
ing, except that one wore gorgeous green
breeches aud had skin skull cap on his
head, while another had brceches of stuff
resembling black plush. All were painted
In the pleasing pattern above described IN
the case of Mr.. Gushing, except that the
color favored by one was red and by an
other yellow. The effect, however, was
! about the same, and in no case entirely