Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-24

~ Anthropological Society Tuesday
evening: "When the sun priest announces
the arrival OF planting time and the
herald proclaims from the house tops that the
planting has been done the seasons for foot
racing in Zuni are at hand.
"The first races Of the year, while interesting
ceremonially, are by no means - exciting as
those which follow later in the season when
the planting Is finished These preliminary
races are over . short course and are partici-
pated in by representative of each Of the six
estufas. Six prayer-piumes and an equal num-
Der OF race sticks are made by the priests OF
the bow, the latter Of which are placed in the
trail about two miles from the starting point
When the time for the race has been decided
upon, which may not be until three or four
days after the race sticks have been depos-
tied by the priests, the six representatives OF
the estufas run to the point where they are and
each msn finds and kicks one of the sticks in a
small circle homsward. This race is . contest
between the six individuals comprising the
racing party, and no betting is engaged in
"The great races of Zuni and those in
occur after the planting-the time when
nearly all the men are at leisure. In Sc
Letting the participants in these races the
swiftest-footed Of the young men OF the north
ern half OF the pueblo are matched against
those Of the southern, or of the western half
against the eastern. The number OF racers on
| side varies from three to and the degree
OF interest taken in the contest depends upon
the reputation Of those engaged in 1t, and par
ticularly upon the extent to which betting has
been INDUCED In.
HEAVY BETTING.
"As soon - the choice Of sides has been made
the wagering begins, and increases with good
natured earnestness until the time for the foot
race arrives. Every available hide and pelt is
hY0nOhf Hoht ham he rn,tQ
stores secreted in the back rooms and cellars,
to be converted into cash or gorgeously colored
calico, and the demand upon the trader for
goods is unequaled except when great dance
is approaching. Money, silver belts, bracelets
and rings, shell necklaces. turquoises, horses,
sheep, blankets-in fact, anything and every
thing Of value to the Indian offered by resi-
dent OF one side Of the pueblo in support OF his
favorites against something of equal value held
by champion Of the opposing side.
PRELIMINARY CEREMONIES.
ION the evening Of the day before long race
takes place the participants repair to . Sc
oluded spot in one Of the mesas some miles
from the village, where hole foot or two in
depth is excavated, in which 10 deposited, with
due ceremony, quantity Of sacred meal and
two cigarettes made Of native tobacco (ah-na-
te) rolled in the-husk Of corn. When this por-
ton OF the ceremony has been concluded and
the hole filled the Indians move away for a
speaking above a whisper, when they start for
the pueblo. On their way should a roosting
bird become frightened and take fight. or the
boot Of an owl be heard, the sign is q warning
to defer the race. But if lightning be seen or
shooting star observed the omen 10 consid-
cred favorable one and the race takes place
on the day following
The racers are greeted on their return by a
priest, who offers q blessing. Asingle cigarette
is made and passed around among the num-
har of NJ @ha,a
The preparatory ceremonies now being COM
pleted the racers retire into the house Of the
priest, who extends his hospitality until after
the event.
THE DAY OF THE RACE
"The following morning, the day of the race,
the runners arise even earlier than usual,
take q short run and return to await the time
| appointed to start. In the meanwhile they make
bets with one another with any one who
may happen in. About an hour before start
ing they partake sparingly OF paper-bread
(he-we) soaked in water, after which they dof
| their everyday apparel and substitute breech
cloths, the color of which is either entirely
white or red, dependent upon the side to which
the wearer belongs. To prevent the hair be-
ing an impeachment to progress it is carefully
and compactly arranged above the forehead in
! knot by one Of the priests of the bow To
this knot or coil an srrow-point is invariably
attached as a symbol of flight, or perhaps as
the arrow. The arrow-points having been thus
placed the same priest, holding in each hand a
turkey quill, pronounces a blessing and leads
his charges to the starting point Without the
excitement Is intense. The women discuss
with one another the probable outcome and
engage In betting as spritedly 40 the men, Here
may be seen fellow who has wagered all he
possesses-if he wins so much the better and
II all Is lost he takes the consequences philo-
sophically and trusts success will visit him next
time. Another may be seen who has ventured
all his own property as well as that Of his wife,
and II he fails to win a divorce is imminent
The small boys also are jubilant When the
| race was first proposed they sought their COM
panions, selected sides, and staked their small
possessions on the results of their own races
with zeal that would have become their
fathers.
1.-THE articles that are to change hands at the
close Of the race are placed In heap In the
center OF the large dance-court near the old
Spanish church. Around this pile OF valuables
crowd gathers, on horseback or afoot, to take
advantage OF the few moments that remain in
which to make their final wagers. As the
| runners emerge from the house, under the
leadership Of the priest, they are followed BY
the excited crowd to the smooth ground on
the opposite side Of the river, from whence
they usually start
PREPARING FOR THE START.
ga Zuni foot race is not entirely contest of
swift-footedness, although much, Of course,
depends upon that accomplishment. In pre-
pairing for the start the members of one side
arrange themselves several PAGES apart In an
irregular line in the course to be pursued in
such q manner that the movements of their