Savannah morning news., 1886-06-16
MAKING AN INDIAN BLANKET.
Wa-Wah, the Zuni Priestess,a at Work
in the National Museum.
From ths Ne,o York Star.

From tts Neso York Star.
An Indian woman, crouching before
rude luon, formed the centre figure Of the
picture that met the eyes of a reporter
when he climbed, the other day, up the
winding stairs to one of the galleries of
the National Museum. 1t was the Zuni
maiden, Wa-Wan, a priestess, and a per-
son II importance among her own people.
The loom was of real Zuni manufacture
a frame Of rods, suspended by cords from
frame above. Wa-Wah sat, or
erOuched, cross.legged, or tailor fashion,
Dne Ut her bare feet showing out from un-
der her robe. or blanket. The loom, the
spindle on which she twisted her warn,
and the long reeds, or sticks, upon which
her yarn, Or worsted, WAS wound, and the
long, fiatstave. or "beater,I which she
thrust now and then through the strands
In the loom, were all specimens of Luni
+ handiwOrk taken from the collections OF
the museum. MR-Wah came there to
weave a blanket on the loom and explain
the use Of the implements. She worked
on silently, patiently, IN the stolId Indian
way, apparently not noticing the spec
taIors That gathered about her or the pho
tographer's camera which was leveled al
her. The loom with the blanket upon it
will be placed in a case in tbs museum,
together with photographs of Ws-N ah at
work upon IL, whica will illustrate the
mode OF weaving employed by the Zunis.
Folks wao have formed poetic ideals OF
Indian maidens. after the pattern of Po-
cahOntas or Minnehaba, might be disap-
pointed in Wa-Wah on trst sight. Her
features, especially her mouth, are rather
large; her figure and carriage rather mas
culine; her coarse black hair is gathered
together behind, and dubbed or bound in
one thick braid, tied with bit OF red
l6aunel. She wears "A calico dress or
WrAppcr and over this a dark-colOred
blanket, fastened about her ample waist
with red girdle. Wa-Wah. who speaks
little English, and whose manner is very
gentle, said that IL took her six days to
weave the blanket she wears. Then she
indicated by spreading open the fingers
OF her hand that she made a hands
breadth from the top OF the out.
stretched little finger 70 the top OF the
1humD each day. This daily task was no
hgnt one, for Wa-Wah's hand is by no
means small. Then after the reporter had
watched her awhile, Wa-Wah concluded
that she had worked enough tor that day,
aud, rising from the mat on which
she had been sitting, she proceeded TO AR
ray herself for she street. TINS was done
by throwing over her head a necklaces or
string OF huge silver beads, Ornamental
with yariuus devices in the shape OF
crosses and half-mOOns. Wa-Wah seemed
proud OF this ornament and said H. was
''made by Iuni man." Then Wa-Wah
eat on little box and put on her shoes
and stockings or what cOrrespOnded 10
them. First, she slipped upon her bare
feet pair of soft slippers or moccaslns
Then she produced a soft elk-skin, which
looked like kechamOis-skin, and began wind
t1g ~ around the ankle and calf Ot Que
lex, aud kept winding ~ around until the
covering extended from the mOccasin
nearly 10 the knee, and there were several
ihicGnesses OF a, giving 10 the limb a
0rOpeicai appearance not justined by the
real facts 0f the case. Then she took a
narrow HtfiD or strap Of the same ma.
terial and bound the Logging on with a.
TIE other iimb WIS awatbed in the same
saY, aBd then Wa-Wah was ready ~ ~.
ere etfcdo cue WITH a masculine stride,
Faanoo doWn tbe steps and put tgr0nRh
fht mAeepm. Na,Na Is guest "a Afe,