The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 83, July 1979 - April, 1980 Page: 421

Book Reviews

(ibid., p. 84). In my view, Cushing also deserves special recognition for
his replicative experiments and technological research in archaeology
(such as experiments with stone tool-making, the use of the spear-
thrower, and ancient metallurgy), as reflected in several of the chapters
in the book reviewed here. However, his contributions to anthropology
go far beyond those to the archaeological discipline.
In a recent article on Cushing (J. Sherwood, "Life with Cushing:
Farewell to Desks," Smithsonian, X [1979], 96-112), W. C. Sturtevant,
curator of North American ethnology at the Smithsonian Institution is
quoted as saying, "... to him we owe our concept of cultures[,] . .. our
understanding that each society has its own unique and integrated way
of life" (Smithsonian, X, 112).
Indeed, it is Sturtevant's appraisal of Cushing's work that best de-
scribes the contents of Zuii. This volume of selected writings, edited by
Jesse Green, clearly evidences Cushing's deep understanding of Zufii
culture, acquired by his incredible patience and persistence. Over
one-third of the book is devoted to Cushing's remarkable experiences
in learning the Zufii lifeway and in gaining acceptance among them.
This is fascinating reading, and while there may be some exaggeration
on Cushing's part, as suggested by Sturtevant (ibid.), it remains a rich
source of information on Zufii society of the 188os. The second major
part of the book reprints (or in some cases publishes for the first time)
several of Cushing's writings about certain facets of Zufii culture, in-
cluding religion, mythology, shamanism, and medical practices. Per-
haps the most important papers assembled in this section are those
which originally appeared in the series "Zufii Breadstuff," published in
the Millstone, an Indianapolis trade journal, during 1884-1885. These
are largely concerned with Zufii corn-farming and other subsistence
activities.
The remainder of the book includes a series of translations of Zufii
myths and folk tales prepared and annotated by Cushing, and accounts
of Cushing's travels with several Zufii to the East Coast in 1886. Finally,
there is a bibliography of Cushing's published writings. As I noted ear-
lier, some of the materials in this book were previously unpublished;
these were in the Hodge-Cushing Collection, Southwest Museum, Los
Angeles.
Cushing's writings, both published and unpublished, constitute a
remarkable achievement. But, as editor Jesse Green notes, his frequent
illnesses, his occasional eccentricities, and his premature death left a
written record that ".. . did not do justice to his actual experience"

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