Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-09-07
FROM THE STRANGE zUNIS.
Some Of the Observations Of a Teacher
Among Them.

CLEvEL,Nn. o., Sept Miss Mary T..
Dssettc. a sister of Capt. r. ID. Dissettc of
this city, and who for the past four wears
has been in charge of the mission school
which the PRESBYTERIAN Board of Home
Missions maintains at the pueblo of /uni,
in New Mexico, is now visiting here She
tells many very interesting details of the
work of attempting to civilize these Indians.
There are, She saws. about 1900 persons
in the village, divided into clans, such as
the Bear and Eagle clans the head men of
which form council for the general direc-
ton of the affairs of the village. The gov
eminent trader and ladies of the miss ion
are the only whites in the community
Twenty three children have been gathered
into the school. Great difficulty was ex-
pcrienced in securing regular Attendance.
and to stimulate it the plan of giving meal
to the children at noon was adopted, but
even this appeal to appetite did not draw
any great numbers.
The /uni children do very much as they
please in chiltlhood'S years. but as they
grow older they are compelled to observe
MI the customs of their people rigidy. The
first thing which u, is necessary to teach the
children is cleanliness.
pie never to reckon their age 1t shows in
gratitude to the gods who give life. they
declare, to do so, and so no one knows. in
all the /uui pueblo. how oil he or his near
est associate may be.
The most difficult thing with which the
mission teachers have to contend, aside
from the extreme conservatism of the peo-
pie, is their superstition. As sun Worship
pers, they are supposed to keep the fire in
the estrifas burning all the time, but they
DO not. 1t is lighted only on occasions of
special religious significance, such az the
solsticcs. Their religion is complicated
with all sorts of traditions and superstitions
and the work of the teachers is often ham
pcred by them. One of their pet super
stitions is that the hair of the animal which
Injuries person, or II part of the implement
bv which they are hurt, if burned and the
smoke inhaled, will cure the injury or pre-
vent seriou. results. bnc day a child at
the mission fell from a little toy wagon.
1t was not injured save a little bump,
but the mother asked that silver
he given her that she might burn it and let
the child inhalc the smoke in order that it
might escape serious consequences. Miss
Dissette refused. and when the little one
died the next winter of consumption, as
scores of /uni children DO the mother and
all the other natives firmly believed it was
hecanse The requcs, had not been granted.
In summer the village is very dull, but
in winter, when all have gathered into the
great group of adobe bonses, there
Is more excitement The /unis are
great dancers. The pass the winter
in three stagss-either preparing FOR
dance. dancing, or recovering from a
dance. The principal feast occurs in No
vemher. when the new houses are dedicated
and the Iunis fill up on bad whisky bought
of the Navaios or the Mexicans. The de-
batch usually lasts a week or more. They
rover their feet with preparation of resin
and other ingredients. which they alone
know, that renders them insen-ible TO heat
and then jump into the fire during their
dances. They use the same preparation to
fortlfy their bodies before -courging them
selves and each other with cacti