Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-16
ZUNI COURTSHIP.
The Dusky Maidens Do Not Take Kindly to
the American Plan.

The Dusky Maidens Do Not Take Kindly to
the American Plan.
Frank Hamilton Gushing, the celebrat-
ed explorer and stddent of Zuni Indian
custums, was asked by a reporter to tell
of his experiences, and thus related his
narrow escape from marrying a willing
Zuni maiden;
"Well, they became much attached to
me-" said Mr.. Gushing, "and were anxious
to make me so happy among them that /
would not care to 20 away. With that
kindly intention they choose a young
woman for me. Looking at her with
American eyes, she was not handsome; to
the Zunj, suppose, she was fair to see.
[ knew if l did not marry her it would be
quite difficult to retain the position held
among them, and, you know, really could
Dot wed her. | thought the thing over,
and decided to get the young lady angry.
| did it. When she sent me the bundle
containing food and fuel as token that
she was willing to have me, went to her
and talked the matter over. I told her it
was customary for Americans. before they
were married to know each other q long
time, so that each could look into the
others heart, and see that there was no
guile there. And then I said after it vas
decided to marry long, long time pass
ed, so that the Americans would have a
chance to know each other well. J said in
this case greater length of time would
be necessary. Not only [ am stranger
to you and your people, I said, but 1 do
not know what kind of wife you would
make; therefore, let Us wait, and I will
watch you day by day, and if 1 never see
a sign that tells me you are not as would
wish you to be, if your words are never
uttered without previous thinking, then
I will know you and you will bring my
bundle.' Well, that did not appear to
be pleasant to her, but, you know, it was
reasonable, and you can reason with the
Zupis. The time passed and I pretended
to be watching her; but was trying to
discover means of continuing my life
among her people without paying such a
high price for it as marriage. After a
time the Zunis turned their faces to the
ocean of the rising sun, and saw an op-
portunity of showing that was willing to
be one of them without marrying. The
Indians wanted some sacred water from
the Atlantic, and l determined to become
priest and lead their head men to the
East. l was received as a priest, and
while that did not remove the privilege
of marriage, it took away the necessity
SIN Zunl the woman makes the
first advances looking toward marriage
1t is right. The woman rises the family
She transmits the name. She sends to the
youth she chooses a basket of meal OF
some peaches, and if he is inclined to
ward her he forthwith makes present OF
primary consideration, consisting of q
pair of moccasins and whole deerskin
beautifully dressed and snow white, That
signifies that she is provided with shoes
for life. The skin is placed over the foot
and then rolled around the leg and
strapped down with delicate thongs. You
can always tell newly married Zuni-
woman by the large roll of deerskin, and
by the small silver buttons that adorn the
leggings. Whenever the foot-piece wears
out it is cut off and the roll is replaced
When the women becomes old the roll
is small. The only santifcation of the