The marvellous country, or, Three years in Arizona and New Mexico.: Containing an authentic history of this wonderful country and its ancient civilization ... together with a full and complete history of the Apache tribe of Indians .../ By Samuel Woodworth Cozzens. Illustrated by more than one hundred engravings.

JIMMY TAKES A DRINK.
The cacique told me, that if a Zuni should make a vow
at the spring, and fail to keep it, the spirit of the spring
would send the lightning from heaven to destroy him.
Thus all vows made at the spring are regarded as sacred,
and are most religiously observed.
During the time that the cacique and his council are
performing the sacred rites at the spring, all those residents of the pueblo who have lost friends by death during
the preceding years assemble just as the rising sun gilds
the top of the lofty mesa, and slowly wend their way in
procession to its summit, there to spend the entire day in
communication with the spirits of the departed, who are
supposed on that day to revisit the earth, and hold sweet
converse with their friends and relatives, who carry them
offerings of flour, corn, and bright blossoms,- a custom
not dissimilar to that of "All Souls' Day," of Catholic
observance.
No Zmuni ever approaches the spring for any purpose,
without the presence of the cacique, or a member of the
council, who always performs an incantation before venturing near it; nor is a guard necessary, such is the veneration
in which it is held.
Being aware of this custom, imagine our consternation at
seeing Jimmy deliberately lie down upon its brink, and
quaffing a most copious draught of its limpid coolness,
exclaim. as he arose. "Bedad. but that's foine watherl "
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