The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-08-18
IUSI COuRTSHIP.
The Dnsky Maidens Do Not Take Kindly to
the American PAN

ihe p"shs haihehs DO NOT TAKE Kindly to
the American Plan.
Frank Hamilton Cushing, the celebrat-
ed explorer and student of Zuni indian
custums, was asked by reporter to tell
of his experiences, and thus related his
narrow escape from marrying a willing
Iuni maiden:
well, they became much attached to
me-" said Mr.. Cushing, land were anxious
to make me 30 happy among them that
would no. 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 Lun', suppose, she was fair to see.
/ knew if did not marry her it would be
quite difficult TO retain the position h eId
among them, and, you know, really could
not wed her. thought the thing over,
and decided to get the young lady angry.
did 1t. When she sent me the bundle
containing food and fuel as a token that
she was wiling to have me, / went to her
and talked the matter over. told her il
was customary for Americans, before they
were married to know each other q long
time, SO hat each could look into the
others heart, and see that there was no
guile there. Aud then | said after it vas
decided to marry long, long time pass
&c, so that the Americans would have
caance TO know each other we'll. said in
this case greater length OF time would
be necessary. Not only [ am Il stranger
to you aud your people, said but do
not know what kind OF Il wife you would
make; therefore, let Us wait, and | will
watch yOn day by day, and If never see
a sign that tells me you are not n would
wish you to be, if your words are never
uttered without previous thinking, then
l 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
Zunis. The time passed and pretended
20 be watching her; but l was trying to
discover means of continuing my life
among her people without paying such a
nigh price for 1t 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
lndlans wanted some sacred water from
the Atlantic, and determined to become
priest and lead their head men to the
East. | was received as priest. and
while that did not remove the privilege
OF marriage, it took away the necessity.
"ln Zani the woman makes the
first advances looking toward marriage.
it Is right. The woman rises the family.
She transmits the name. She sends to the
youth she chooses q basket of meal or
some peaches, and if he is inclined to.
ward her he forthwith makes present of
primary consideration, consisting of a
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 a newly married Zuni-
woman by the large roll of -erskin, and
by the small silver buttons that adorn the
leggings. Whenever the foot. piece wears
out II Is cut off and the roll ia replaced.
When the women becomes old the roll
Is small. The only santifcation of the
marriage Is the formal adoption of the
young man after the acceptance of the
bnud!e. He is then the stepson of the
gifis father, When the youth desires to
consummate the courtship he sends the
girl dress, which, theoretically, he
waves. That Is to show that he can pro-
vide his wife with clothes. He works for
her in the fields to show that he can pro-
vide her with food. Each OF those little
things has significance. They seem
small, but they are of great importance.
The Znni Indians are a small tribe, but in
them is condensed the history of the
greatest people that has ever populated
he American continent