The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-08-10
zUNI INDIANS AT THE CIRCUS.


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 ZUNI INDIANS AT THE CIRCUS. They Took Home Posters Which After
 ward Figured in Their Religious FIX
 ercises.
 Frank H. Cushing, of the Bureau of Ethnolopv savs when he brought the delegation of Zuni Indians East in the summer of 1882 what interested them most of all they saw on the journey was the circus posters that were pasted on the dead walls and the high board fences along the railroad track. They showed processions of gilded ehariots, extraordinary acrobatic feats, cages or ferocious animals, herds of elephants and other pictures which are quite fami- liar to the eye of the white man, put had never before been seen py the lh- dlans They were filled with amaze ment. They could not understand what the pictures were or why they were eX- hibited to the public. In thelr untu- tored attempts to solve the mystery they concluded that they were repreeen- tations of religious rites and had been exposed in public places in order that the people might worship them. In the Zuni mythology the animal Kingdom has an important place, and their diff ferent clans and gems are named III honor of the tiger, the bear, the ante lope and other wild beasts. which they are accustomed to worship, Iherefofe they lost no time in offering adoration to the circus posters
 Shortly after their arrival in Wash ington Barnum came to town with his circus and menagerie, and he sent an invitation to the Zunis, who promptly accepted. It was difficult for Mir, Cush ing and their other escorts to get them away from the cages of wild beasts. because they had never seen such i've animals before and feared that they would never have another opportunity At each cage they offered prayers and scattered their curious prayer meal III the air. The lions and the tigers, the | giraffes and the elephants Interested them most, and it was with the greatest reluctance that they were persuaded to leave Jumbo, who was then the king or the herd and his associates. But the | performance had already begun in the ring, and MT. Barnum was anxious that they should see it all
 The Zunis regarded the tent as a great temple, and believed the perform ance to be a mysterious religious eXer- else Hence they regarded every num- ber on the programme with the most reyerent attention. Everything that happened seemed to amaze and in terest them more than the last. They were astounded at the gymnastic per formances. They had never heard or conceived of such feats of strength and agility and were convinced that the acrobats were supernatural beings pos- sessed of divine strength and the spirit of the gods.
 MT Barnum sat with them during most of the performance, and at the end, through MT. Gushing as interpre- tor, he told them that he desired to make them a present to take home to their tribe. He told them that they might choose anything under the tent that pleased them most, and he would give it to them or send it at his expense to Zuni. The importance and generos- ity of this offer was immediately rec ognized, but it was a matter too por- tentious to be hastily settled. hence the venerable oacique asked time to consult and consider.
 All right" said MT. Barnum heartily. "Anything you want under this tent is yours, and you can have all the time you need to take your pick, Only sug gest that you would better settle the matter before we leave Washington and save trouble"
 All that night the Zunis sat in solemn conclave, and it was long after dawn that they adjourned with heavy eyes and solemn faces. Later in the day they met again. and after several hours of further conference the old cacque sent for MT. Cushing, and in the name and presence of his associates announced that they had reached a decision which they desired him to communicate to MT, Barnum. He said they had con templated and discussed the subject in all its bearings, and had come to the conclusion that they would prefer set ! of circus posters above anything else that they had seen. He explained that 1 some of his companions had advocated the acceptance of one of the animals or one of the acrobats, whom they would take home with them as a priest or god, but that would be only one, whereas if they took the posters they could l have everything, or at least counter part, and, furthermore they would thus be able to show their brethren all the wonders they had witnessed at the cir GUS
 MT Gushing recognized it as a very sensible decision. It would enable them to give the whole tribe fair idea of their most remarkable experiences, and , on the next great feast day after their return the pictures were nailed up in the estufa, or temple, for public inspec- | tion with great remony.-Chicago l Record.
  l LaWyer-Well, have you at last decid- 1 ed to take my advice and pay this bill l