ZUNI FETICHES. 



Bt Frank H. Gushing. 



ztnsn PHiiiOSOPHY. 



The A-shi-wi, or ZuSis, suppose the sun, moon, and stars, the sky, 

 earth, and sea, in all their phenomena and elements; and all inanimate 

 objects, as well as plants, animals, and men, to belong to one great sys- 

 tem of all-conscious and interrelated life, in which the degrees of rela- 

 tionship seem to be determined largely, if not wholly, by the degrees 

 of resemblance. In this system of life tbe starting point is man, the 

 most finished, yet the lowest organism; at least, the lowest because 

 most dependent and least mysterious. In just so far as an organism, 

 actual or imaginary, resembles his, is it believed to be related to him 

 and correspondingly mortal; in just so far as it is mysterious, is it 

 considered removed from him, further advanced, powerful, and immortal. 

 It thus happens that the animals, because alike mortal and endowed 

 with similar physical functions and organs, are considei'ed more nearly 

 related to man than are the gods; more nearly related to the gods than 

 is man, because more mysterious, and characterized by specific instincts 

 and powers which man does not of himself possess. Again, the elements 

 and phenomena of nature, because more mysterious, powerful and im- 

 mortal, seem more closely related to the higher gods than are the ani- 

 mals; more closely related to the animals than are the higher gods, be- 

 cause their manifestations often resemble the operations of the former. 



In consequence of this, and through the confusion of the subjective 

 with the objective, any element or phenomenon in nature, which is be- 

 lieved to possess a personal existence, is endowed with a personality 

 analogous to that of the animal whose operations most resemble its 

 manifestation. For instance, lightning is often given the form of a 

 serpent, with or without an arrow-pointed tongue, because its course 

 through the sky is serpentiue, its stroke instantaneous and destructive; 

 yet it is named Wi-lo-lo-a-ne, a word derived not from the name of the 

 serpent itself, but from that of its most obvious trait, its gliding, 

 zigzag motion. For this reason, the serpent is supposed to be more 

 nearly related to lightning than to man; more nearly related toman 

 than is lightning, because mortal and less mysterious. As further 



9 



