The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-11
YORK AMONG INDIANS.
A Teacher Tells of Her Work Among the
Zunfs.

A Cleveland dispatch says: Miss Mary
T.. Dissette, q sister of Captain l. ~.
Dissette. of Cleveland, and who for the
past four years has been in charge OF
the mission school which the PresOyte-
rign board of home missions maintains
eft the pueblo of Iuni, in New Mexico
is row visiting Cleveland. She tells
many very interesting details OF the work
of attempting TO civilize these Indians
There are she says, about l.oOO per-
sons in the village, divided INTO Clans,
such as the Bear and Eagle clans; the
head men of which form council Tor
the general direction of the affairs OF the
village. The Government trader and the
ladies of the mission are the only whites
in the community. Twenty three chll-
dren have been gathered into the school
Great difficulty was experienced IN St.
curing regular attendance. and to stlml-
late il the plan of giving a meal to the
children at noon was adopted, Dut even
this appeal to appetite did not draw any
great number.
The Zuni children do very much as they
please in childhood's years, but as they
grow older they are compelled TO cp-
serve all the customs of their people rig
idly. The first thing which it is neces-
1t is one of the superstitions of this poo
pie never to reckon their age. Ii sho KS
ingratitude to the gods who give life,
they declare. to do so, and SO no one
knows in all the ZuDi pueblo, how old
he or his nearest associate is
The most difficult thing with which TIE
mission teachers have TO contend, aside
from the extreme conservatism of the
people. is their superstition. As sun wor-
Slippers they are supposed to keep the fire
in the estrfas burning all the time, but
they do not. 1t is lighted only on occa-
sions of special religious significance.
such az the sOlstices. Their religion is
complicated with all sorts of traditions
and superstitiOns and the work of he
teachers is often hampered by them. One
of their pet superstiuons is that the hair
of the animal which Injuries a person. or
a part of the implement By which they
are hurt if burned and the smoke i'll
hailed will cure the injury or prevent So
nous results One day n child at TIE
mission fell from a little toy wagon.
1t was not injured save a little bump,
but the mother asked that a silver he
given her that she might burn it and let
the child inhale the smoke in order thas
it might escape serious consequences.
Miss Dissette refused. and when she
little one died the next winter of cor
sumption, as scores of Zuni children do,
the mother and all the other natives
firmly believed it was because the request
had not been granted.
In summer the village is very dull,
but in winter, when all have gathered
into the great group Of adobe hoIsea
there is more excitement. The Zunis are
great dancers. They pass the winter in
three stages-either preparing for Il
dance, dancing, CT recovering FROM a
dance The principal feast occurs in
November when the new houses are deGi-
Gated and the Zunis fill Up on bad
whisky bought Of the Navaios or the
Mexicans The debauch usually lasts 4
week or more They cover their feet
with a preparation of resin and other IN
gradients, which they alone know, tkaS
renders them insensible 70 heat. snd
then jump into the fire during their
dances. They use the same preparation
to foItify th,ir bodies before scourging
themselves and each other with cacti.