The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-06
ZUNI INDIANS At THE CIRCUS.
They Took Home Posters which Az
terwRrd Figured in Religious Ex-


ercises.
Correspondence OF the Chicago Record
Frank II. Gushing, of tho bureau of
ethnology. says when he brought the dele
cation of Zunl 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 rail-
way track They showed professions of
glded chariots extraordinary acrobatic
feats. cages of ferocious animals. herds
Of elephants and other pictures which are
quite familiar to the eye OF the white man,
but had never before been seen by the
Indians. They were filled with amaze
ment. They could not understand what
the pictures were or why they were ex-
hbited to the public. In their untutored
attempt 10 solve the mystery they conclud-
ed that they were representations or re-
ligious rites. and had been exposed in
public places in order that the people
might worship them. In the Zuni mythol-
ogy the animal kingdom has an important
place, and their different clans and gems
are named in honor of the tiger, the bear,
the antelope and other wild beasts, which
they are accustomed to worship. There
fore, they lost no time in Offering adora-
ton to the circus posters.
Shortly after their arrival in Washing
ton 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. Cushing and their
other escorts to get them away from the
cages of The wild beasts, because they had
never seen such live animals before and
feared that they would never have another
opportunity. At each cage they offered
prayers and scattered their curious prayer
meal in the air. The hons and the tigers,
the CRATES and the elephants interested
them most and It was with the greatest
reluctance that they were persuaded 10
leave Jumbo, who was then the king of the
herd and his associates. But the perform
ance had already begun in the ring. and
Mr.. Barnum was anxious that they should
see 1t all.
The Zunis regarded the tent as a great
temple. and believed the performance to
be a mysterious religious exercise. Hence
they regarded every number on the pro-
gramme with the most reverent attention.
Everything that happened seemed to
amaze and interest them more than the
last. They were astounded at the gym
nastic performances. They had never
heard or conceived of such feats of
strength or agility and were convinced
that the acrobats were supernatural be-
tngS possessed or diVine strength ana the
spirit OF the gods.
Mr. Barnum sat with them during most
of the performance and at the end,
through Mr. Cushing as Interpreter, he
tod them that he desired to make them
a present to take home TO their tribe He
told them they might chose anything uu-
der the tents that pleased them most, ana
he would give II TO them or send It at his
expense to ZunL The importance ami
generosity of this offer was Immediately
recognized, but Il was a matter too por-
tentious to be hastily settled. hence the
venerable caclque asked time to consult
and consider
All that night the Zunis sat in solemn
conclave, and II was long after dawn that
they adjourned with heavy eyes and sol
emn faces. Later in the day they met
again, and after several hours of fur
Their conference the Old cacique sent for
Mr. Cushing and in the name and pres
ence Of his associates announced that they
had reached decision which they desired
him 10 communicate to Mr.. Barnum He
said they had contemplated and discussed
the subject in all It's bearings and had
come to the conclusion that they would
prefer set Of circus posters above any
thing else that they had seen. He ex-
planned that some Of his companions had
advocate the acceptance Of one OF the
animals or one OF the acrobats whom
they would take home with them as
priest or q god but that would be only
one, whereas IL they took the posters they
could have everything, or a least a coun-
terpart, and Furthermore, they would thus
be able to show their rethren all the
wonders they had witnessed at the cir
Gus
Mr.. Cushing recognized 1t as a very sen
sib.e decision. IL would enable them to
give the whole tribe a very fair idea OF
their most remarkable experience. and on
the next great feast day after their re-
turn the pictures we're nailed up in the
estufa, or temple, for public inspection
with great ceremony.