392 THE ZUNI INDIANS [eth. ann. 23 



seen by the writer. The man in conversation or when eating- pressed 

 his hand against the opening. 



The writer has observed one case of dislocated kneecap for which 

 splints and bandages were used — that of a child 6 3'ears of age. In 

 plate c a mother and two children are shown. The elder child with 

 the right leg in splints is the one suffering from dislocated kneecap. 



The Ne'wekwe (Galaxy) fraternity are famous for curing the bite of 

 the rattlesnake. A man suffering from a wound must remain alone 

 in a room, for should he chance to see a woman nourishing her infant 

 he would surely die. A combination of three roots is chewed by the 

 medicine man and applied to the wound. The patient also chews the 

 roots. It is believed that if clouds gather after one is bitten, he is 

 more likely to die, for then the snakes go about vigorously' and the 

 limbs swell to the heart; but if the sun shines hot, the snakes are lazy, 

 and in four da3's the one bitten will be well. 



WITCHCRAFT 



Belief in witchcraft seems to be universal among the Indian tribes, 

 and no great advance in civilization can be made among them until 

 the beliefs and the accompanying practices are rooted out. It can not 

 be hoped that this will be accomplished at once, at least if strangers 

 to the religion and social customs of the people undertake the task. 

 When it is remembered how recently reputed witches were put to 

 death among our own people, and how persistently the negroes and 

 the more ignorant whites still cling to the belief, what can be expected 

 from peoples in that stage of culture where superstition is the prime 

 factor in their lives? 



Primitive man is less happy in his philosophy than enlightened man, 

 because the latter has left behind many of his superstitions. The 

 primitive man''s world abounds in perplexing m3\steries. All that his 

 untutored mind fails to comprehend is associated with some occult 

 power. This is the condition in which we tind the North American 

 Indians. These people are in constant terror of being conjured. 

 Young mothers especialh' are solicitous for their infants, since these 

 are the targets for the venom of diabolical beings. The child's head 

 and face are alwaj's covered when a supposed witch approaches. 

 Again, no man or woman who is reduced to povertv or has some phys- 

 ical deformit}^, especially any peculiarity that might be taken for the 

 evil eye, or has made an enemy of a prominent member of the tribe, 

 feels safe from accusation. The owner of tine beads and other adorn- 

 ments experiences much bitter with the sweet of possession because 

 of the fear that some witch, prompted by jealousy, will strike him 

 witb disease. Moonlight is a great boon to those who must go about 

 at night, for it enables them to identity suspicious objects. They say 



