Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-05-24
THE INDIANS OF NEW MENIco, THE
ZUNIs, sIoQUIs, NAvAJos, APACHEs, sc


ply 10 some queries addressed TO him on The
subject OF establishing missions of the Me-
thodist Episcopal Church among the Indians
of New Mexico.
LIBERTY, Mo, Arm 10, 1851.
Rev. John p. Durbin, D. d.
Il can give you little information an reia-
,ion to the Indians of New Mexico, other
than what has been published On my arri'
val in the city of New Orleans, as returned
from New Mexico, | furnished one of the
city papers (the NatiOnal,) brief descrip-
tion of some of these tribes and the country
they inhabit, and 10 that | refer you, but
will here give you brief account of
those tribes of which Mr.. Gurley speaks.
A mission TO the Zunians or Zunis, is more
likely to prove successful than any other
They reside on branch of the River Gila
the Southern branch Of the Colorado. They
are not numerous and are mainly confined TO
one city. They probably number from
5000 10 5000. They are comparatively civ
ilized. Indeed consider them as much so
as the population of New Mexico generally.
They live almost exclusively by agriculture
and cultivate the ground rudely, as do all
the New Mcxicans. They make good,
warm, coarse blankets and other clothing
from their hocks. When I visited them,
they were poor in herds, having been enga.
ged in a war with the Navajoes, their more
warlike neighbors, who had plundered them
of many sheep, as well as mules and horned
cattle. The city in which they reside is
singuarly built up, resembling the old ruins
of the Aztec towns and villages, as nearly as
I could ascertain from their ruins. Zunis is
divided into four quarters, by two streets
running through the city at right angles
Every house is two stories high, the lower
story presenting a solid wall without win
dow or door, 10 the street. The second story
rises from this apparently solid mass, so far
back of the wall of the lower story, as TO
leave pathway on top of the lower, say
eight or ten feet, and on this are all the al
leys and pass-ways OF the entire quarter of
the city.
The Inhabitants ascend 10 the top of the
first story by ladders, and at night or at the
approach of an enemy, these are drawn up
and every house forms sort of a citadel
The Zunis regard the present inhabitants OF
Mexico as greatly inferior TO the old Span
iards, and indeed they have, some years
since, thrown off the tyranny of Mexico and
her mongrel priesthood for the religion Of
Northern Mexico is compound of Paganism
and the most degraded form of Romanism.
think, from these facts, added to the tenn
permanent of these Indians, which is kind,
hospiabie and pacific, that mission would
succeed better with them than with the
Pueblo Indians of the valley of the Del Nor
tc, or even the superstitious and degraded
pres,ridden Mexicaus themselves. The
Zunis have large, fertile and delightful
valley, compared to the valley east of the
Sierra Madre, and, if they could be protect
ed, would soon be a thrifty people.
The Aloquis, another tribe of Indians on
the same stream, further south west, are
remarkably mild, pacific, hospitable, indus
trous and honest. They are poor because
the Nagaios and Apaches constantly rob
them. Sill they make a living by agricul-
lulC anu hCCp pOoSCSS'Oll VI Nlrl ""
They, too, deny the power and jurisdiction
of the Priesthood and of the Mexican gov-
eminent. Their towns are built like the
-Puebla villages of New Mexico. Although
pacific, they are numerous and powerful,
and think mission might subserve the
seven villages of Aloquis and the Zunis /;
they only living about Is or 20 miles apart
as now recollect.
The Navajos are bold, brave, active and
numerous tribe possessing more wealth
than all the other Indians of New Mexico
This consists of countless thousands of hor-
ses, mules and sheep. They are a strange
people, deSpising houses or even lodges or
tents, and living entirely in the open air,
and almost constantly on horse. back They
are consequently the finest horsemen on the
continent. They have been at war with
she New Mexcans for many years and have
made them poor by their inroads and plum
dering excursions. They inhabit the coun-
try on the middle or central water courses
forming the Colorado. found them brave,
truthful and magnanimous, and, 10 ali our
troops, honest, although our stock was often
at their mercy. But woe TO those at war
with them-the Megcans, Zunis and Mo-
quis. They treat their females with more
consideration and attention, and require
them 10 perform fewer menial Offices than
any Indians have every met with. The
consequence is, the females are more cheer
full, sprightly and good looking than those of
other tribes. They are remarkably ingenl-
Gus, making excellent blankets, with bril-
liant and lasting colors and yet they spin
without wheels and weave without LOOMS
They also make saddles and brides, from
the raw hide, of astonishing durability and
comfort But it would be Herculean labor
TO civilize and christianize these bold sons of
the forest.
The Apaches and other tribes are wholly
nniDteresling, and fear past all redemption,
al least durinO This upneration Thav ara