Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-03-07
The Moquis.

following description OF an interesting ana
semi.ciyilized race of Indians called the Mo-
aus, who reside in the Great Basin through
which the Colorado runs 1t is thought that
this is the remnant Of race that built the pyr-
amids and other ancient works, the remains of
which are visible in different parts Of Calilor-
MIA to this day.
We believe that Capt. Joe Walker, tho yete
ran trappcr, is the only white man In this
country that has ever visited this strange peo-
pie, and from him we gathered, in the course Of
u long conversation, most interesting account
of their country and manners. The most i'm
plcit confidence may be placed in all his state
ments. He is entirely free from the habit Of
romancng and cxaggerating, which we often
fad among great travellers.
Through the very center of the Great Basin
runs the Rio Colorado Chiquito, or Little Red
River II 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 point ON the same parallel of latitude with
Walkers Pass About one hundred miles
north Of this, and running almost parallel
with it, is the river San Juan Each of these
streams is about two hundred and fifty miles
long Between them stretches an immense ia
ble-land, broken occasionally by Sierras of no
great length, which shoot up above the general
elevation About half way between the two
rivers, and midway in the Wilderness between
the Colorado and the Rio Grande, is the coun-
try of the Moquis From the midst of the
PLAN rises abruptly on all sides a butte of con-
siderable elevation, the top of which is as fiat
as if some great power had sliced of the sum-
nit. Away up here the Moquis have built
three large villages 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 its base is plain of ara
BILE land, which the Moqus cultivate with great
assiduity. Here they raise all kinds of grain,
melons, and vegetables. They have also a num-
Der Of orchards, filed with many kinds of fruit
trees. The peaches they raise, Capt. Walker
says, are particularly iiue. They have large
focks Of sheep and goats, but very few beasts
of burden or cattle They are harmless, in
offensive race-kind and hospitable to stran.
gers, and make very little resistance when at
tackled. The warlikc Nayajoes who dwell in
the mountains to the northeast of them, are
in ths habit Of swcer,iuar ,s,un ",,o., H..
ry two or three years, and driving off their
stock. AT such times they gather up all that
Is movable from their farms, and fly for refuge
to their mountain stronghold. Here their enc
mics dare not follow them When q stranger
approaches, they appear on the tops of the
rocks and houses, watching his moyemeats,-
One of their villages, at which Capt Walker
stayed for several days, is five or six hundred
yards long. The houses are generally built Of
stone and mortar-some of them of adobe
They are very snug and comfortable, and many
Of them are two, and even til ee stories high
The inhabitants are considerably advanced in
some Of the arts, and manufacture excellent
wooden clothing, blankets, leather, baskct-work
and pottery.
Unlike most of the Indian TT lies of this
country, the women work within doors the
men performing all the farm and outdoor la
Dor. As a race, they are lighter in color than
the Digger Indians OF California, Indeed, the
women are to.erably fair in consequences of
not being so much exposed to the sun. Among
them Capt Walker saw three perfectly white,
with white hair and light eyes. He saw two
Others Of the same kind at the Zuni villages,
nearer the Rio Grandc. They were, no doubt,
albinos, and probably gave rise to the rumors
which have prevailed Of the existence of white
Indians in the Basin.
Moquis have probably assisted nature in lev
cling the top of the mountain as a site for their
villages They have cut down the rocks in
many places and have excavated out of the sol
id rock nun her of large rooms, for manuiac-
turing wooden cloth. Their only arms are bows
and arrows, although they never war with any
other tribe Tic Navajoes carry of their stock
without opposition. But, nnikc almost every
other tribe of Indians on the continent, they
are scrupulously honest. Capt Walker says
the most attractive and valuable articles NAV
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 pcturelquc costume
of their own manufacture. They wear dark
robe with red border, gracefully draped So as
to leave their right arm and shoulder bare
They have most beautiful hair, which they ar.