The Washington times., 1915-04-22
Says Talk of Indian Sacrifices ID
"Wildest Rot"

To the Editor OF THE TIMES:
With q feeling of amusement that car
rles a modicum of contempt for sucn
research" as is reported by Mrs.
stevenson in the matter OF human
sacrifices" amongst the Pueblo, and re-
lated Indians of New Mexico, l read
what your paper publishes as that
lady's discoveries among the remain
ing eleven Pueblo towns. The under
signed first visited Zuni in December,
1850 with Capt. Lafayette McLaw5
later Confederate gencraD. and for
the last time he was there was during
a part OF December, 1891. In Tor about
1862, Lieut.. Frank Hamilton Cushing
was sent there, and as he did not cN-
hibit evidences of idle curiosity" the
Pueblo Indians of Zuni-by express con-
sent of Pedro Pine, the patriarch Of the
town at that time, Mr.. Gushing was adj
mitted to a knowledge of the "mythol-
Gushing joined tho tribe. and when he
became proficient in that philosophy Gt
is not religion. as Americans under
stand that tcrnD. he was admitted to
brought his wife ian Americam there;
and he died in Zuni, and Mrs. Cushing
was living there at the latest knowledge
OF the underssncd: to whom she de
clared that she preferred the honesty
of the Xunis TO the hollowncss of New
York's finest society.
No missionary, or scientist who goes
amongst any OF the Indian tribes that
the undersigned has knowledge of, can
get any insight Of the-so called-my-
thology Of the tribe. To the curious the
Indian shuts up like a clam.
None Of the Indian tribes know any
| even God. They benevc in a supreme
spirit that is absolutely unknowablc.
who governs the earth: all nature, In
word by. and through an infinite num-
Enr of cVNir ~
Scmblance to the mythology of Scot
land, with its fairies. pixies. &c. Yet
| they will talk about these. ignorantly
using the white mans term. the gods
| of the tribe. but always in a way 10
| lead the curious away from any real
knowledge Of the philosophy at the bot
| tom Of their cult.
| The Pueblos-like all the rest of the
| Indians try their own criminals bv
| their tribal council. and when the crim-
| nal is held to be irrodeemably vicious.
| the sentence may he death. And 1t is
| carried out in sorrow with deep mourn
| ing ceremony. And is the only case in
| which tho dead are lamented At these
| trials, and at the punishment OF tho
criminal. the parents. relatives and
| friends are always present. and take 4
| leading part in the ceremony.
| Sacrifices tc gods" amongst our In
| dian tribes is the widest rot: and such
an idea could be entertained only by
| the most ignorant; or by the moss
| jealous and most selfish of Information
| hunters" who arc not IN sympathy with
| the peorle among whom they try to
| learn what the Indian will always care
| fully conceal from such people.
| While reading the article the thought
crossed the mind Of the undersigned
that .omconc had an eye on the lands
| of the Pueblos. They were citizens of
Ola Mnvico. and under the treaty OF
| Guadalupe Hidal9o, they are citizens of
the United States. Some honest influ-
ence might take their case up and help
| them out of the turmoil ahead.
| Try and find il Mrs. F. II. Gushing is
| alive. for she belongs to the highest
| circles in Pueblo mythology" as cheap
anthrcpologists term il.
| PE-CU-YE.
| "a believer in the Spirit Of TruthD