Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-01-25
IIJNI INDIAN MAGIC.
a PERFORMANCE THAT PUZZLES ALL
WHO WITNESS 1T.

This Wonderful Feat Rivals the F"-
mons Mango Growing Trick OF the
MISUNDERSTANDING Are Unable 10
Solve the Mystery.
Nearly everybody has heard OF anu
wondered Mt the mango growing trick
of the Hindoo. by which he makes
seed sprout before the astonished eyes
% the European and reach maturity In
very short time.
Rut few are aware that an equally
amazing feat is regularly performed
bv the Zuni Indians on this continent
Tbeir medicine men at the amman
~corn festival" do stunt of wmch no
satisfactory explanation has ever peen
advanced. Scientists seeing IL nave
been made, ms a cowboy described It,
to look like 80 cents"
Preparation is made for this exuaor-
binary Zuni performance by Spreauihs
n large square of clean, yellowlsh sanu
on the ground before the southern aper-
ture Of the medicine lodge This sahd
&c carefully smoothed and packed so
MS to present n firm, level surface
Around the edges Of the sand square
are then drawn, by means OF cerelno-
niol arrow. figures representing the
Great Spirit, the earth, the sun, the
civ and the rain. There are also the
svmhols for corn and for a bounutui
harvest.
The indentations made by the arrow
ere then filed in with pigments the
clouds and sky with blue, the earth
with black and the harvest WIN
chrome yellow. The center OF the
sonare is left vacant When compiet-
cd this sand painting is a fine specl-
men of barbaric art and Is far from
displeasing to n civilized eye.
when the hour arrives. the othclatlng
medicine man takes his seat In the
oneping of the lodge facing the SAND
square. On his right and left extend
ing out around the square. the chlels
ond warriors range themselves accord
ing TO rank. Whenall are in posiuon' lhe
medicine man fills the ceremonial pipe
with tobacco. lights 1t and blows one
Duff Of smoke to the east. one 10 Tue
west. one to the north. one TO the sou'u
and two to the heavens. lie theh az
dresses those assembled. recountng the
religious history of the tribe It's wan
behring's and famine and the DeheNo
lence of the Great Spirit in the past
He closes with prayer for the contln
uance of fatherly care.
Then he takes a grain OF corn IRON
the medicine bag at his waist thrusu
the sacred arrow into the center OF I'M
sand square. withdraws it. drops INT
grain into the opening and care1uli.
smooths down the sand. Resuming nj
seat all the assembled chiefs light thel
pipes and smoke in silence.
II the Great Spirit condeScends 10 an
swer the prayer Of the medicine man
as generally happens, the grain OF COT
will sDrout and send forth shoot.
After an interval of fifteen or twent
minutes the sand seems disturbed q
the spot where the corn was Durlec
Soon slender light green blades o
sprouting corn appear above the SUI
face. The plant rises naturally an
rapidly during the day
Bv the next sunrise the silk and taS
sci appear. BY noon the ear and stal
have reached full maturity.
Then ripening begins. Finally I'll
blades and huskS turn yellow and "a
tie when they are shaken by the wine
All this. mind you. has been done
thirty-six hours.
On the morning of the second da
the corn growing is complete. IL
medicine man now addresses u
watchers. who in company hay
.'watched" the plant grow, for 1t
never left alone. With appropriate &c
emonies he symbOiZes the harvest [
stripping the ear of its husks.
The corn he places in the medlclI
bag for future ceremonies. while II
stalk is pulled up by the roots al
hung over the door of the lodge. II
long vigil of the watchers is now en-
cd. and they seek much needed re
and food in order to be ready for u
rain dance on the following day.
these ceremonies is deeply mystihe
Above all. he is filled with admirau'
for the old medicine man. So natur
and mysterious has been the proce
that the spectator feels at times q
posed to believe in the presence
some supernatural power.
Yet every sane person knows ID
this performance has nothing unn;
ural about it. No white man, howev'
has discovered the secret. The absen
of stage paraphernalia and the cru
mechanical knowledge of the Zul
add TO the mystery of the whole thin
Various theories have been advanc
I'm explanation. One is that sol
shrewd old medicine man discover
by accident some peculiar natul
chemical that has the power OF TO
ing the growth Of Il grain Of corn a
that this secret has been handed do
from one generation Of priests to
other.
Another favorite explanation is Il
by great skill the medicine man is a
to hypnotic the entire circle Of sp
tators and so produce the result wi
out apparatus of any kind save
low stalk Of corn from the last b
vest
Others say the feat is accomplish
by elaborate machinery concealed II
pit
But nobody knows exactly.-N
York Times.
No DOasting There.
ut Is well that man can't S;
himself" once said Mr. Moody, "fOl
man could only work his own v
info heaven Won never would hear