Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-03-16
A White Indian.
4 SCIENTISTS sgLr.sAcRirIcg-THE zuxI
TRIBE.

MT. Ihhk II Nubhlngt accompanied
I by six Zuni Indians. arrived in the
city yesterday, and Is stopping at the
/ Palmer House. An extended account
of his life for two aud half years IN
the tribe-hc having been sent there
by the Smithsonian lnstitute-appear.
ed in the Times Monday. The ap
pearancc and unsophl-ticated manners
Of these Indians show that their con.
scrvatlve temperament has kept their
natures from acquiring that sharp.
ness which is noticed in 50 many
other tribes. While they were at sup.
per they received an invitation To- at.
tend a reception which was being given
by the Templar lodge, No. 4iO, IN the
dancing hail, and, together with Mr..
. Cushing, they spent brief hour watch.
ing with wondering interest the war
dance Of the paIe.lace-. Ga splicita-
tion Of the TempIars, three of the
Indians gave the assembled company
an exhibition Of their own dance, to
the evident satisfaction Of all The
dance was an improvement OH the
racquet, aud threw the Newport into
the shade 1t was n cross between
"hoc-down" aud the gyralions Of a man
suffering from cramp in his stomach.
Being very tired with their sigbi-.ce.
lng aud dissipation. they retired. They
leave tonight for Washington. Mr..
Cushing, the young man who has thus
taken three years out of his life for the
advancement of science, l. a member
of the bureau OF ethnology under Mai.
Powell, one of whose assistants he J..
He was sent out two and a half years
ago, aud presented himself to the tribe
for membership. lie WAS cordially
received, but came near losing hi, lie
when they discovered him taking note.
aud making -kctchcs Thi-, however.
he continued 10 do, aud has expressed
all his notes to Washington. The
greater part of hi. information is lock
cl up in his long haired Uranium, ami
safe from the Indians. lie began hy
I adopting their costume aud customs,
aud 10y learning their language aud
manners. This he succeeded IN doing
in n short time, AMI gained their rc.
spect aud admiration
/ Step by step he advanced until he
+ found 1t necessary to adopt their r..
I iig;on also, that he might learn all the
ceremonial details. This he al-o did,
aud he i now second chief Of the tribe
/ of sixteen hundred. H. has made a
+ thorough study Of the Zuui language.
+ including It's grammar and e,ymolosy.
Being an enthusiast in cihnDlugy he
/ found ample time aud opportunities
+ for this branch of science. aud hi- work
/ will doubtless prove of great value.
/ He found that by joining the priest
hood Of the Bow he would be further
enabled to prosecute his researches,
and he accordingly joined aud ha.
attained the first degree Five of those
with him are members of the order.
. The order Corresponds to the Masonic
organizations of civilization, has the
character OF a political ring, control.
ling all the "iuHooence' and even go.
Ing so far as t1 deal out capital pun.
. ishmcut when necessary.
Mr.. Cushing saws that the only
capital oiIense among the Iuuis Is
witching. hat that this crime includes
many others. The criminal i given
over to the priesthood and then dis.
appears from society. Tne tribe. a. is
known, i the oldest among the North
American Indians. and l. also the most
conservative, which accounts for the
failure Of civilization to make the
slightest impression upon taeir ligion
or manner. They are all spiritual
lists, the priests acting as mediums.
/ Their eTrgnd eat is partly 10 get their
cans and bottles full of sea water.
which they hold as sacred. This will
probably gain Mr.. Gushing great ad.
vaniagts on his return to the tribe.
which takes place in about two months.
The Zunis. Mr.. Gushing says, are the
true stock of the old Pueblo race and
through them he is enabled to trace
back all the old traditions aud man.
ncrs to the time of the Montezumas.
lie finds that the religious rites, the
ceremonies of the secret or,ler, all the
manners and customs are identical, to
the minuiest degree, with those of the
race of three hundred years ago. as
shown by the cave pictures. Mr..
Gushing is therefore a genuine Indian
to ell intents aud purposes, having
adopted all savage manners aud Gus.
toms. as well as religion. The Times,
however. has his word that he has not
married into the tribe. This they
much desire him to do, but so far he
has refused. He seems 10 have great
influence with them, aud he shows his
love aud respect for them in every
action. He is brother. by adoption.
of the head cacique, who is with the
party, aud IL was with the utmost So
liCilaiion and tenderness :hat he as.