The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-05
A THING oF THE PAST
From TAR STRANGE zuN1s.
Some Of the Observations Of Teache
Among Them.

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Among Them.
Miss Mary E Dissette, sister Of Capt.
+. d. Dissette of this city, and who for the
past four years has been in charge of the
mission school which the Presbyterian
board of home missions maintains at the
pueblo of Zuni, Ia New Mexico. SAYS a
Cleveland tO.) special to the New York
Times, is now visiting here. She tells
many very interesting details of the work
OF attempting to civiIiKe these Indians.
There are. she says, about l 900 persons
In the village, divided into clans, such as
the Bear and Eagle clans, the head men Of
which form council for the general airec-
ton OF the affairs OF tho village The gov
ernment trader and the ladies OF the mission
are the only whites in the community.
Twenby-three children have been gathered
into the school. Great difficulty was expe-
rienced In securing regular attendance, and
to stimulate it the plan of giving a meal to
the children at noon was adopted, but even
this appeal 10 appetite did not draw any
great numbers.
The Zuni children do very much as they
please in childhood's years. but as they
grow older they are compelled to observe
all the customs of their people rIgIdly. The
first thing which 1t is necessary TO teach the
children is cleanliness.
1t is one Of the superstItions OF this peo-
PIC nctcA W E6ChOu bu6kE age. IL SHOWS
gratitude to the gods who give life they de-
clare, to do so, and 80 no one knows, in all
the Zuni pueblo, how old he or his nearest
associate is.
The most difficult thing with which the
mission teachers have TO content, aside from
the extreme conservatism of the people, is
! their superstition. AS sun worshipers,
they are supposed to keep the fire in the
estritas burning ell the time; but they do
not. 1t is lighted only on occasions of
| special religious significance, such AS the
solstlces. Their religion is complicated with
| all sorts OF traditions aud superstitious and
the work of the teachers is often hampered
by them. One of their pet superstitions is
! that the hair Of the animal which INJURIES a
person, or part OF the i'm plement by which
they are hurs If burned and the smoke in
hailed, will cure the injury or prevent serious
results. One day child at the mission fell
from little toy wagon. 1t was not injured
save little bu ap, but the mother asked
that silver be given her that she might
burn IL and let the child inhale the smoke in
order that it might escape serious conse-
quences. Miss DiSsette refused and when
the little one died the next winter of con.
sumption, as scores OF Zuni children do, the
mother and all the other natives firmly be-
lieved it was because the request had not
been granted.
In summer the village is very dull, but In
WAhNoA' "ueu All nave gave KaJnereu into
the great group Of adobe houses, there is
! more excitement The Zunis are great
| dancers They pass the winter In three
| stages-either preparing for a dance, dane
ing, or recovering from a dance. The
principal feast occurs in November when
the new houses are dedicated and the Zunis
fill up on bad whisky bought Of the Navajos
or the Mexicaus. The debauch usually lasts
! a week or more. They cover their feet with
Preparation OF resin aud other ingredients
which they alone know, that renders them
fire during their dances. They use the
same preparation to fortify their bodies be-
fore scourging themselves and each other
with CaCti