New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-20

THE ZUNIS OF TO-DAY.
THEIR ANCIENT HOME AMONG
NEIE-MEXICO MOUNTAINS.
INDIANS WHO HONOR WOMEN-FEED on
IOCUSTS AND PAPER" BREAD
KEEP EAGLES FOR THEIR
FEATHERS.

washington April 70 (SpeciaD.-High up on the
western slope Of the Sierra Nadres stands ancient
Zufi the last Of the ancient Pueblos. On a pedes-
tai Of natures making it seems TO be held out of
reach for while beyond its fellows. and those
who pass that way gaze and wonder and admire
and pity The Zu1is cid their name n
flesh nor paint in blood in history. but by per-
sstent refusal descend to the level of the de-
GRADED Indian tribes.
silhouetted in dusly red against q blue sky. with
Turquoise Mountain in the background and Ia
aiIa-lo-ne, Scored Thunder Mountain. to the side.
from distance this city of the past presents a
commanding appearance. The terraced buildings
are the color Of the sierra and built of red
sandstone slabs mortared together with red adobe
nsy Dead and deserted looking, without flag fly
,ps the place appears like the stronghold Of some
medieval baron. II has narrow, winding ways
irregular plazas, odd costumed figures winding
noiselessly through the streets the women carry
ing great earthen jugs Of water their heads.
And there ladders everyNh here, for. though the
houses have DOORS those that form the super
structure not entered through those below.
Above the roofs clay chimneys. that are built in
sections. look. like flower pots. and lead from al
most the counterparts Of the great old New-Engand
freplaces. A slab Of red sandstone over the fire
serves a stove. No tables or chairs placed
about the rooms, but Pueblo and Navajo blankets
and rugs curtain the walls and carpet the floors.
Zufi populous city. but its inhabitants
have dwindled away, partly from privation re-
sultaut from their voluntary seclusion q barren
reservation to little more than a thousand souls.
OF late years they have been compelled TO let
down the barriers OF secusion which they erected
half q century more ago The Zuhis cruel
to enemies and pets, but considerable Of
another They never lose their tempers discuss
in violent They consider ii beneath their
dignity strike fellow tribesman. Their chill
oren are obedient, for before the government
interposed It used to be the custom to kill the
worst child OF the village each thirtieth ami
persary feast.
They will not learn to read and write. and the
two school teachers who live among them do
10 more than teach them industrial pursuits and
accomplishments. They still persstently worship
in their own way. Their religious dances of
thanksgiving and supplication TO the various gods
are numerous. but the great dance Of the year
takes place during the full of May.
In intelligence the Zunis rank with the Aztecs,
the Incas and the Toltecs. Like them. they have
always dwelt in fixed abodes. and unlike the
nomadic Indians in wandering propensities The
wandering tribes were, with the exception OF
few requirements Of bravery and endurance be-
fore enemies, the slaves of flesh and passion.
What has made every civilized people made the
Zuiis distinctive among North American abo-
risines-the high pinnacle upon which they placed
woman. She was never in Zuni allotted the drudg-
cry Of the village The work the fields,
while the carry the water and attend the
homes which they own, and from which one can
turn a husband who proves drone or who arouses
in order n have several homes in case thev dis
please in one. for. unlike other Indians. they are
They are sentimental in the extreme, and marry
young When a youth fancies maiden, the
with his back toward her. and untwfnes his head
cloth. She accepts him by running her fingers
through his hair or rejects him by softly stink
While they possess no written LANGUAGE like their
Central and South American peers. they have an
unwritten language, handed down from genera
ton to generation The Zunis never forget Their
sacred book has four divisions, like four books,
and each division is sabdyided into four chapters
A half dozen Of the brightest youths Of each gen
Grafton selected TO serve the less fortunate
as literature Beginning at the age OF twelve, on
sacred book To the common folk 1T is as Latin,
for the work is transmitted in ancient Zuhi .
The paper bread the Zuni women bake on the
slabs OF stone is curious. The corn is graded py
colors green. yellow. blue and red and pulverized
and made into dough This is spread as thin as
pasteboard over the stones. It bakes almost in
stantly and ii is then rolled up like shavings.
Zuni River. the little stream that runs past the
foot OF the there is abundance OF fine hs!l;
sooner touch them than white persons would
partake OF their favorte food, which they rise be
promptly soldiers at bugle call host OF locusts
poke their noses out of the ground at the moment
the sun appears over the mountain. The required
number OF insects for the days diet are promptly
There is a little salt lake the foot OF the noun
tain, and in the valley a peach orchard mat pro
duces fine fruit. Corn grows fairly well under the
Industrious hands Of the Zunis but their crops SUI
FER for lack Of water. The greatest work the gov
nish them with some means Of irrigating their bar
mountain reservation Their chief divinity, the
rain god, showers his blessings upon them about
a year
Eagle farming is an industry among the Zunis.
They catch and keep the birds for their plurnage,
but the creatures never become perfectly tame.
They are distressing sights with their tail feathers
plucked. but they never lose their dlgnirled car
rage and always defy the naked children. a part
birds