The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-05-24
The Indians Of New Mexico; the Zu-
ME, Moquis, Mavajoes, Apaches, SC.

We are permitted to publish the fol-
lowing interesting letter from Col. A.
w. Doniphan, of Mo-, to Rev. John P.
Durbin, d. D., in reply to some queries
addressed TO him on the subject of estab-
fishing missions of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church among the Indians Of New
Mexico.-[ Ercning Bulletin.
LIBERTY, No., April 10, 1851.
Req. John p. Durbin, d. d.
l can give you little information in re-
lation to the Indians of New Mexico,
other than what has been published.
On my arrival in the city of New Or
leans. as Ireturned from New Mexico,
| furnished one of the city papers 1.-THE
National, a brief description of some
of these tribes and the country they in
habit, and to that refer you, but will
here give you a brief account of those
tribes Of which Mr.. Gurley speaks.
A mission to the Zuifians or Zutiis, is
more likely to prove successful than any
other. They reside on a branch of the
River ella, the Southern branch Of the
Colorado. They are not numerous and
are mainly confined to one city. They
probably number from 5000 to 5000.
They are comparatively civilized. In
deed consider them as much so as the
population of New Mexico generally.
They live almost exclusively by agri-
culture and cultivate the ground rudely,
as do all the New Mexicans. They
make good, warm, coarse blankets and
other clothing from their focks. When
| visited them, they We're poor in herds,
having been engaged in war with the
Narvajoei, their more warlike neigh
bors, who had plundered them Of many
sheep, as well as mules and horned cat
tie. The city in which they reside is
singularly built up, resembling the old
ruins of the Aztec towns and villages, as
nearly as could ascertain from the ru-
ms. Zunt is divided into four quarters
by two streets running through the city
at right angles. Every house is two sto-
ries high, the lower story presenting a
solid wall, without window Or door to
the street. The second story rises from
this apparently solid mass, SO far back
of the wall of the lower story, as to
leave a pathway on top of the lower,
say eight or ten feet, and on this are all
the alleys and pass-ways Of the entire
quarters Of the city.
The inhabitants ascend to 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 a
sort of citadel. The tufts regard the
present inhabitants of Mexico as great
~ inferior to the old Spaniards, and in
deed they have, some years since, thrown
of the tyranny Of Mexico and her mon
grel priesthood; for the religion of
Northern Mexico is compound ofPa.
ganism and the most degraded form of
Romanism. think, from these facts,
added to the temperament of these IN
dams, which is kind, hospitable, and pa
cihc, that mission would succeed bet
ter with them than with the Pueblo In
dians OF the valley of the Del Norte, or
even the superstitious and degraded
priest ridden Mexicans themselves. The
ZufIis have large, fertile and delight
full valley, compared to the valleys east
of the Sierra Madre, and, if they could
be protected, would soon be thrifty
people.
The Moquis, another tribe of Indians
on the same stream, further south west
are remarkably mild, pacific, hospitable,
industriousand honest. They are poor,
because the Navajos and Apachas con-
SANITY rob them.-Still they make a
living by agriculture and keep posses
sion Of their towns. They too, deny
the power and jurisdiction of the Priest
hood and of the Mexican government.
Their towns are built like the Pueblo
villages of New Mexico. Although pa
citic, they are numerous and powerful,
and think a mission might subserve
the seven villages Of Moquis and the
Zutiis, 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. his consists OF count
less thousands of horses, mules and
sheep. They are strange people, des-
Pising houses or even lodges or tents,
and living entirely in the open air, and
almost constantly on horseback. They
are consequently the finest horsemen on
the continent. They have been at war
with the New Mexicans for many wears
who have been made poor by their in
roads and plunlering excursions. In
predatory warfare they have few supe.
rors. They inhabit the country on the
middle or central water course forming
the Colorado. found them brave,
truthful and magnanimous, and, to all
our troops, honest, although our stock
was often at their mercy. But woe to
those at war with them-the Mexicans,