Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-08


forms an interesting study. In Boston it was
characterized as Homeric. The following literal
translation Of a part of recent address by one
of the chiefs is typical of the construction of the
language:
GAS a winged monster upon the back Of
without once our feet the earth touching to, we
from the Zuni country, unto the rising sun
ocean OF, In one step, as it were, come have"
This is rendered literally
las though upon the back of great winged
monster, without once touching our feet to the
earth, we have, as in one step. come from the
country of the Zunis. far though it be- unto the
ocean of the rising sun.
Their songs abound IN poetic gems and rare
Images. AS an example of this Mr. Cushing
rected the following, which is liberal transla-
ton OF the words of one of their songs, but pre-
serves the poetic spirit
Oh, how beautiful
See the waving corn plants round US,
Through the sandy plain, the river,
T0rtuouS like the serpents pathway;
Over all the rainbow stretching,
With her shoulder many colore1,
Like the rays OF ciouied sunlight.
OD, our fathers growing corn plants,
Like The rainbOwS striped shoulders,
May your leaves show marks of growing,
E-lu-lu-ya, see the lightning, as IL flashes
through the sky,
E-lu-lu-ya, hear the thunder as rumbleS
through the sky.
ANCIENT MODELS OF SONG.
"An the models of these songs" said Mr..
Gushing, ''have been handed down from i'm
mense antiquity. They are skeletons, on which
songs are formed to suit special occasions, and
it is in the ingenuity of dressing these skeletons
that the poet of ability is distinguished from the
one Of no ability. All their poetry is founded
upon conventional forms"
THE RELIGION OF THE ZUNIS
is semi-Buddhistic, and resembles in many re-
speets the creed of modern spiritualists When
questioned regarding their religious belief Mr..
Cushing said, ''The most complicated question
in the study of the Zunis is that of their remark
able pantheistic religion. They have four great
classes of ds-the celestial, the hero, the ami
mai or biOlogic and the elemental. Their sys-
tenn of mythology is a reflection Of their own
primitive system OF gOyernment-that is, the
offices of these various gods hold the same rela-
ton to one another as the offices of the Zuni
priests and chiefs hold to each other If you
study, therefore, exhaustively their sociolOgic
system, You will have the groundwork Of their
Hydrologic system.
They look upon 1t as favor to kill certain an
finals in the chase. 1t Is considered that spirit
Is set free from an inferior form of existence
and made eligible for life in human shape. The
event Is celebrated with sacrifices of plume
Sticks. When deer, an antelope. rabbit or
any other animal that serves as food, is brought
home, ears OF corn are placed over its heart
just as they are placed over a newborn infant
The ear Of corn Is emblematic of life 'eThe Zuni
mind, added Mr.. Gushing. sis philosOphic in
the extreme, and. though they are intensely
conservative, they thoroughly comprehend what
they see."
BRAVE BUT HUMANE.
In reply to question of the reporter whether
the Zunis were not warlike In disposition, Mr..
Gushing said:
"They are brave in the defence of theirhomes
but do not seek war. The secret Order of the
Bow Is founded on the spirit Of war, vet their
institutions are humane in the extreme PRAYER
is said at the taking Of q scalp, showing ten
dency to give every human being one more
chance"
.Are You not tired Of your life among them?"
asked the reporter.
Tonight" said Mr. Cushing, ':the intense in
terest Of my studies among them comes upon
me with overwhelming force and makes me per
fectly contented with my horrible lot in Zuni.
perfectly contented to 60 back and resume it for
years IL necessary. Now I have lived lonp
enough among the Zunis to lose that enthusiasm
which misleads and to acquire that which leads
In spite OF every circumstance, as 1t has led me.
| Ii had dreamed q few years ago ofthe immense
amount OF entirely new material and that was
destined TO find it, should have been ecstatic:
but have had TO find 1t through such severe ex.
| perfencee, in such q very mountainous and
thorny way, that that which would have been in
tensely enjoyed has been embittered by the sac-
| rifices required"
"wiIl you explain 10 me the meaning Of the
recent ceremonies at the sea shore7" asked the
the zuni's religion replied N. cuahine.