ZUNI INDIANS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 9456, 23 July 1881, Page 3

ZUNI INDIANS.

Little has hitherto been known of the Indians, a tribe some two thousand s ffoii(r, occupying a narrow valley thirty ittUes in length, situate upon the western frontier of New Mexico, not far from i'ront Wingate, in a south westerly Action. The opening of railway comjMuiications, however, in the 'neigh - Dom'liood of that far-lying territory has nought the Zuaiß into notice. They

have lately been visited by several western explorers, who report that they are skilled agriculturists and horsebreeders, worshipping the sun as the creative principle, and living in large pyramidal buildings, several storeys high, but forlorn of doorways. These quaint dwellings can only be entered through the aperture forming, as it were, the apex of each residental pyramid, and approached by moveable ladders ; but every story, inhabited by one or more than one family, is externally fringed by an open gallery, which serves as a ladder station. The chief personage in the tribe is a high priest, who lives by himself in a huge temple, the outer walls of which are decorated with strange hieroglyphics. This functionary is believed by theZunis to be in the possession of magical secrets, enabling him to regulate the seasons and control the weather. The skin colour of most of the tribe is dark ; but a few Zunis have been observed who, although in other respects similar to their fellows, are light complexioned, with fair hair and blue eyes. It would appear that these abnormal Zunis are regarded with loathing by the rest of the tribe and live the life of pariahs, all intercourse with them being strictly interdicted to the brown-skinned inhabitants of the Zuni Valley.—" Daily Telegraph."

Duxedo Jockey Club. — At the. annual meeting- of the Dunedin Jockey Club a very animated discussion took place regarding the proposal to purchase a racecourse for the Club, but it was unanimously resolved, That, "if practicable," the Club should obtain a freehold of the land required by them for the purposes of the Club, instead of leasing for a few years." During the debate some strong language was used, but the chairman objected to having the meeting turned into a bear-garden, and said he did not want " Cayenne pepper," but peace and quietness. Rumoured Plot to Assassinate the King of Italy. — The following extract from a private letter, dated Eome, May Bth, has been sent to the Daily News. The writer is said to be a gentleman in every way likely to be well-informed : — " A grave piece of intelligence has just come to my knowledge. The police have discovered a plot to assassinate the king. The suspected mandatory is an Italian, who came here some time since, accompanied by a fellow-countryman known to the police as a member of the International. Both put up at the Hotel , but soon after separated, the one charged with the execution of their design removing to another hotel. The latter is now under the close surveillance of the police, a number of whom have been detailed to dog his footsteps constantly. Simultaneously with the appearance here of these suspicious characters, a number of boxes containing explosive materials for the tunnelling of the St Gothard have been stolen from the Italo-Swiss Society. Models of these boxes have been sent to all the police stations in the kingdom." WOMENS' FRANCHISE BILL.— Dr Wallis has introduced a Bill to extend the franchise to women. It is to be subject to the provisions of " The Qualification of Electors Act, 1879." The second section is as follows: — "Every woman of the age of twenty-one years or upwards, having of her own right, and to her separate use, a freehold estate in possession situate within any electoral district of the value of twenty-five pounds, whether subject to incumbrances or not, and of or to which she has been seized for at least one calendar month next before the registration of her vote, is entitled to be registered as an elector, and to vote at an election of members for such district for the House of Representatives. But n© woman shall bo entitled to be registered as an elector, or to vote at any such election, in respect of any other qualification." No woman can be elected a member of the House. Parihaka. — The Pungarehu correspondent of the New Zealand Times says: — "The Parihaka meeting is very largely attended, but the weather interferes with the proceedings. The meeting square was not occupied until late yesterday, and the speeches of Te "Whiti and Tohu were short. The contention is to be carried on with the Government by the boys who are living near the fence at the Parapara, and who were arrested and liberated last year on account of their youth, and who have lately been fencing a cultivation to the seaward of the road. Tohu says that they will contend for seven months, when all will be settled. The Natives have fourteen thousand pigeons, kakas, and tuis, which are to be distributed when the weather is sufficiently fine. There is no sign of submission, but the released prisoners and those who were not arrested are to take rest while the party of boys carry on the agitation, which will probably be confined to the vicinity of Parihaka. A mounted patrol is maintained between Pungarehu and the fence by the Armed Constabulary. Serious Accident. — The Wakatipu Mail has the following particulars of a serious accident which befel a man named Frederick Middleton, who marvellously escaped without even a broken bone. It appears that Middleton was working for and with W. Adcock, a rabbitter on Mr D. A. Cameron's station, at the Mokomai. When going home to | the station on Friday they were benighted — lost in the hills — and, during their wanderings Middleton fell over a sheer precipice some 40 feet, and afterwards rolled two or three chains down the gully below until a flax bush stopped his progress. Adcock tells us he expected Middleton would have been killed, but after an arduous journey of nearly three hours he 'found his companion, still alive but scarcely sensible. Middleton was brought on by train to Kingston on. Saturday, in expectation of being able that day to reach (Jueenstown cii route for the Wakatipu Hospital, but as there was no steamer he had to wait till Monday afternoon. On being examined at the hospital it was found that he had seven or eight severe scalp wounds, and some parts of his person — more especially his face— were fearfully bruised, but no bones broken. Constable Neale happened to be at Kingston at the time, and Dr Chilton states that, had it not been for the constable's attention in cleansing Middleton's wounds, there would have been little chance of saving life. Adcock, who is himself a poor rabbitcr, has been put to some expense on account of the accident, and- informs us that Middleton has no means. j