The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-05

flow, continuing down the valley, entered
the mouth Of the Zuni canyon. And just
hore is q curious fact After the volcano
had spent its energy and destructive force,
after the molten rock had cooled, living
stream formed and rushed down the mar
row opening Of the Zuni canyon. The
gentle action OF the stream has, during
centuries Of time, finally succeeded in cut
ting through the solid basalt at least four
feet. None but biologists would
realize how much is implied by
this phenomenon. Taking tho most
conservative standard, that which
Lyell applied TO tho Niagara Falls, not less
than 6,000 years would be required to do
this work. The Pueblos, having been
built before the lava flowed, must have
been 6,000 years old and probably much
older. But the type of their Architecture
Is far moro modern than that OF Los Muer-
tos, and these ruins occupyaposltion much
further south in the course Of migration.
Therefore, we are furnished with many
cycles of timo with which TO account for
the rise OF tho cultures. Who shall say
that civilized man In America Is not TO-
900 years oldf The discoveries In the Salt
not easy TO controvert the force OF such
geological evidence rs is presented by the
wearing down OF the little stream in the
Zuni canyon through the solid lava rock.
THE EARTuQuAKE.
We have geological evidence Of great
period Of timo TO allow tho successive
building up Of the cities, their desertion,
and the migration OF the people who in
habitod them into the far south. But,
when we consider the vast area OF cult
uyated fields and well appointed houses
which have been thus abandoned, never TO
be occupied 10y other races, another Of the
ever-recurring problems OF science springs
up. What caused the inhabitants Of the
seven cities TO migrate2 Mr.. Cushings eX-
PLANTATION of this phenomenon has not per
haps been thoroughly understood. There
IL an impression gone abroad that the city
OF Los Muertos was destroyed by earth
quakos and the inhabitants killed. Such a
theory is essentially ludicrous and sonsa-
tional. There Is no doubt that the walls
Of los Muertos were severely shattered
and often thrown down by great earth
quakes. There Is no doubt that many OF
the inhabitants were killed by falling walls.
But, serious as was the disturbance and
unfortunate IA were the consequences OF
the earths uphcaval, there WIS far moro
important reason which impellcd the mi.
grafton of the peoplo-a reason which
spring from the very bowels Of their phi
losophy and religion, reason which
blended supcHtitious terror and natural
fear into n solemn warning which u primi-
tive people could not but heed To under
| glu lsatp nj az trta ftuI riH
selves OF all prcconception and think about
this matter IN sympathy with the print.
tive man. II is the essence Of savagCry 10
regard all appearances "a real, and TO in
terpret all the phenomena Of nature by the
agency OF some god.
CENTER oF TuE RARTH.
Now, the whole theory upon which the
seven cities were constructed turned upon
one point. In the eyes Of this primitive
people their cities were built around the
center of tho earth. This evidence oi
natural cgoism Il not found only among
the American Pueblos The Chinese and
| the Bosionese have the same conception,
and no doubt many other primitive civil
nations hug tho Same dclusion. The ar.
mngement Of the cities into north, south,
east and west, the under world and the
over world clearly illustrates this idea.
| Along with this theory went the belief
/ that the center Of the earth was firm and
stable. Nothing could shake Il; there was
10 be the worlds civilization. But this
confidence WIS 10 bo rudcly shaken. The
earth upheayed and fire came out Of Il.
The temples tottcrcd, the buildings fell
| How could this bo the center of the earth
This was question which the people O
los Mucrtos naturally asked. Tho prizes
must just as naturally have answered
This Is not the center Of the earth. w
will seek II elsewhere" At any rate thi
Is the statement Of Zuni tradition. Tn
modern tribe relate that their ancestors
pursued by the dreadful anaquie, left thcil
ancient habitations and moved their cities
southwark, over In search Of the immoy
able center.
nisroRy LIVING IN soNd.
Mr.. Cushing has himself personally
taken part In the earthquake ceremonial
aud has frequently listened 10 the interest
ing song OF the god, Shaqucna, the goo
OF the under world, impcr0nated Ia III,
Zuni drama by the priest OF that deity
Both the song Of Shaquenn and the ccrc'
monial itself are striking evidences Of the
| lutulllN vi Ailt iuhutIn fNill VIII
the ancient civilization. In the earth.
quake ceremonial. sacred conch, drum,
battle ax aud other implements are used.
The discovery VI all these instruments III
an estusa at Los Muerios was the greatest
find Of the expedition. There Il but ON,
sct Of these Instruments In Zuni today
and among all tho buildings excayatet
hut one set has been ioundat lns Muertos
A description Of the ceremonial woulC
lead too far, but u n sufficient 10 say tina
In essence Il consists In blowing the concl
and beating the drum. Then thcre Is
period Of expectancy. Will the god Sha
quena ariscY viii the earth ircmble as I
did In the time Of the anccstonY vii
the walls again fall 10 the groundY II mo-
the failure OF Shaquona 10 present himself
h taken "a q sign that the confidence o.
the people is not misplaced.
snAQuENA SHOOK THEN Or.
The song Of the god shaquena, which Il
OF vital interest la this connection, IN on,
OF those which Mr.. Gushing sings will
considerable effect. The god relates tha
without much thought Of the mischief h,
was doing, lac rent the earth asundcr and
causing It's internal fire 10 bclch forth, dc
siroycd the cities. But when Shaquenl
saw the misery tina, lac caused he was con
sumed with pity for the unfortunate pco
pie, and. advising them 10 seek the cente
Oi the earth, he promised 20 disturb then
No more. But, the Zuni tradition relates
tho ancestors were loath 80 get out o
bed" The result was that tho god sha
quena was forced TO gently remind thou
Of the necessity OF seeking the center o
the earth, At which they had evidently no