Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-25
The Moquis.

that he IS better acquainted than any living
man with the intricacies of all the hills and
streams that lose themselves in the great ba-
sins. While trapping on the tributaries of the
Colorado, an Indian offered to guide Mr.. Bird
ger and party to people living far up the de-
sert, with whom he could barter
The proposition was accepted; and after pro-
viding themselves with dried meats and water.
they struck right out into the heart of that great
desert, where no white man has before or since
trodden, and which the hardy mountaineers
will only venture to skirt. After five days. ira
vel, the party arrived at three mountains, or
buttes, rising in grandeur in that solitary waste.
These mountains were covered with diversity
of forest and fruit trees, with streams of the
purest water ripping down their declivities.
AT their base was numerous agricultural peo-
pie, surrounded with waving fields of corn and
profusion of vegetables. The people were
dressed in leather; they knew Nothing of fire.
arms, using only the bow and arrow; and for
mile after mile,r circling those buttes, were
adobe houses two and three stories high. Mr..
Bridger was not allowed to enter any Of their
towns or houses, and after remaining three
days, bartering scarlet cloth and iron for their
furs, he left them, not, however, before being
given to understand that they had no commu-
nication beyond their desert home. That these
are the people that once inhabited the banks Of
the ella and Colorado, and left these monu-
ments Of wonder, the "Casse Grand.u which so
deeply attracted the followers of Fremont and
Doniphan, and then vanished like dream.
there can no longer be doubt.
Months after this conversation with Bridcer.
/ had another with Mr.. Papin, the agent Of
the American Fur Company. He told me that
another Of the party, Mr.. Walker, the noun
taineer, after whom one of the mountain passes
is named, and who is known to be q man Of
truth, had given him the same description Of
these isolated people, and in my mind there is
not q shadow Of a doubt Of their existence.
According to Captain Walker, through the
very centre of the Great Basin runs the Rio
Colorado Chiquito or Little Red river It takes
its rise in the mountains that skirt the right
bank Of the Rio grande, flows almost due west.
and empties into the Colorado at a point on the
same parallel Of latitude with Walkers pass.
About 100 miles north of this, and running
almost parallel with it, is the River San Juan.
Each of these streams is about $50 miles long.
Between them stretches an imenss table land.
broken occasionally by sierras of no great
length, which shoot up above the general ele-
walton. About half way between the two
rivers, and midwayin the wilderness between the
Colorado and the Rio Grande, is the country of
the Moquis. From the midst of the plain rises
abruptly on all sides butte Of considerable ele
walton, the top Of which is as fiat as if some
great power had sliced off the summit. Away
up here the Moquis have built three large vii
lagos, where they rest at night perfectly secure
from the attacks Of the fierce tribes who live to
the north and east of them. The sides Of this
table mountain are almost perpendicular cliffs,
and the top can only be reached up steep
flight of steps, cut in the solid rock. Around
| IS nj IF
Moquis cultivate with great assiduity. Here
they raise all kinds of grain, melons and yepe-
tables. They have also a number Of orchards.
filled with many kinds of fruit trees The
peaches they raise, Captain Walker SAYS, are
particularly fine. They have large focks Of
sheep and goats, but very few beasts of burden
or cattle. They are a harmless inoffensiye
race-kind and hospitable to strangers. and
make very little resistance when attacked.
The warlike Navajoes who dwet in the, mo,,n-
tains to the northwest of them, are il the bah;t
Of sweeping down upon them eyery two a.
three years, and driving off their stock. AZ
such times they gather up all that is movable
IRON their farms, and thy for refuge to their
mountain stronghold. Here their enemies dare
n 2, follow tnem. When stranger approaches,
tney appear on the top Of the rocks and houses
watching his movements. One of their VILLAGES.
at which Capt. Walker stayed for several days'
is live or six hundred yards long. The houses
are generally built of stone and mortar. some
OF them adobe, They are very snug and com.
portable, ana many Of them are two, and even
three stories high. The inhabitants ara CON
slderably advanced in some of the arts and
manufacture excellent wooden clothing blan-
kets, leather, basketwork, and pottery. I'm
like most Of the Indian tribes of this country.
the women work within doors, the men perform.
ing all the farm and outdoor labor. AS a race.
they are lighter in color than the Digger Tn
dams ct California. Indeed, the woman are
toferabiy fair, in consequence Of not being so
much exposed to the sun. Among them.
Captain walker saw three perfectly white, with
~nite mar and light eyes. He saw two others
OF the same kind at the Zuni villages. nearer
the Rio Grande, They were no doubt Alb;nos
and probably gave rise to the rumors which
have prevailed Of the existence Of white Indians
in the Basin.
Inc Moquls have probably assisted nature
IN leyelling the top of the mountain as q site
Tor their villages. They have cut down the
rocks IN many places, and have excavated out of
the soiidrock number oflarge rooms, for mann
iactunng wooilen CLOTH Their only arms are
BOWS ana arrowss, although they never war with
any otne.. TRIBE The Navajoes carry off their
Sock without opposition. But unlike almost
every other tribe Of Indians on the continent.
they are scrupulously honest. Capt. Walker
says the most attractive and valuable articles
may be left exposed, and they will not touch
them.
Many of the women are beautiful, with forms
OF faultless symmetry They are very neat and
clean, and dress in quite picturesque costume
OF their own manufacture. They wear dark
robe with red border gracefully draped SO as
to leave their right arm and shoulder bare.
range with great care. The condition Of a
female may be known from her manner of
dressing the hair. The virgins part their hair
in the middle behind, and twist each parcel
around hoop six or eight inches in diamter.
This is nicely smoothed and oiled, and fastened
to each side of the head, something ike large
rosette The effect is very striking. The mar
ried women wear their hair twisted into club
behind.
The Moquis farm in the plain by day and