The New York herald., 1867-03-13

OUR FORT wIxeA1E CORRESPONDENCE.


our FORT wIHeATE CORRESPONDENCE.
The Puebles Indinns-Their Religion, Cus-
toms. Villages. &c. A.
FoRr WNGArE, N. NJ, Jan. Q, 1907.
since my last have visited several Of the Indian
puebIcs or villages and have collected some additional
ofintercsk Tho principal villages are nineteen in
number. comprising In part tnose Of zlnni. Jemez,
Ysletta, Taos, sanda, Santana, San Domingo San Fe
pe, Iaguna, Acoma and San Juan Most Of the habita-
tons these from two to four stories In height
and all arc built OF adobes all tho Mexican and
American houses in this country. These adobes i'm
dried bricks Of Garth and straw and properly
laid, form most comfortable dwelling or business struc
ture. The Indian houses have sAid two stories
and upward and each story above the rst has portal
or porch from which entrance Is made by sort OF trap
to the story immediately below. Entrance 10 these por
tails Is gained by ladders which be hauled up after
the inmates OF the dwellings hare made tho ascent II
Is tradition OF this nation that their houses were built
originally in this for purposes OF defence against
nomadic or hostile tribes Each room, however large,
has seldom than two small windows with singlass
panes consequently tho supply Of light from the exte
rior Is extremely limited In many OF the houses in the
older pueblos port holes for purposes Of defence still
to be seen. .r- -
The Indians have lived for centuries in their puebos
oh" "io III NJ ochso hothuuOs ~ SrtHy ~ 10
necessary refer decree OF the Emperor Charles w.
of Spain. Of the date Of March 21 1884, in relation
their protection in their villages against tho wandering
bands Of other and tribes At the time OF
the first revolution against Spain By the Pueblos Indians
a number Of their towns werc destroyed Some Of
these wcre rebuilt and were the only ones
erected after the date Of the conquest We learn from
Casanadas account that In 1910 thev living pros
perousiy in their villages Tn, ruins OF many ancicn.
VILLAGES throughout the territory, and the Eve several
dialects SPOKEN by tho paebos 20 to show that they are
them have faith 10 Montezuma, though protesting the
Roman Catholic RELIGION Their traditions arc to the
effect that Montezrma was born In what is row New
Mexico They differ however, TO bis birthplace,
some affirming tha, he first saw light at nueblo whose
and others at the ruined pueblo rroos. document
until lately on file In the city OF Mexico gives Togncyo,
tho place Of his nativity and the year i5s a, the date Of
his birth This paper refers to him as moro OF pro-
phct than god; be foretold wonderful events which
came TO pass and expected to visit his people more
though the date Is not given The Pucblos believe that
he was a demigod, but that the name Of Mon.ezuma
was bestowed him by the Great Spirit after he had
by many wonderful deeds, proved the divinity of his
mission. Notwith.tord.ng tbeir msny ancient and
customs The Pueblo Indians professors Of the
Roman Catholic faith by whose rites thev baptize
marry and bury. Though worshpping In .'the faith"
they minglc many Of their own old superstions
In all Of the ancient p1cblos whose ruins are st visi-
BILE be the remains OF csrds sacred bu ID
ngs wterc fires said TO have been kept constantly
burning Tho mysteries hanging about these structures
made II possible, mysterious bv each subsc-
quent writer As near as have been able 10 ascertain
rooms Of The Eastern coansy towns trial cccupes
the attention Of the people in tho building IN the day
time. followed perhaps st night by concert or some
other entertainment for the amusement OF tho pecp'e
Grave ec1ncs NAV DO held in them at time, while
az another hilnrity resounds within their wallis A.
0S been suEnna ~ was times said s
seasons BY person annually selected by tho
council Of the pueblo for That purpose Is sad BY the
two or three OF tho tribe still living that Mnntezaml
pressy ordered that this rc should not be extngulshed
Tho general belief however. among the Indians OF the
other pucbos is that the OF tho continuance OF
the famo was simply that sit was one Of the customs
There is strange story esant Of .bg SERPENT,
human SACRIFICES, which, though gravely related BY
many, an inclined 10 put down ~ myth.
Each pueblo has separately organized government of
its own, but the systems nearly similar Thcre
cdciqre governor lieutenant governor, wnr capain-and
bis lieutenant fiscal major and agriacL The crrf2s.
has more TO do with the administration OF the ancient
rites than with any other ducs and the regard, re-
spect and affection paid him places him I'm the language
of Mr.. John Ward, their assistant special ngent,
In the position Of sort Of elder There Is pueblo but
has i!s ha6,a or horse hrd and herd OF horned cat
t,e, sheep and goats or these tho war captain has
his lieutenant divides the duties Of supervision. The
berdins performed in common by the males Of tho
village without reference 10 tho number or head Of
stock each may own Each male II sunlncntiv grown,
must take his tour OF iuty or furnish substitute
These Indians are remarsaby srusal and inar,rcus
pumpkins, peas onions, musk and water melons rrms,
apricots pcar peaches apples grapes corn green and
In the pueblos south OF Santa Fe and thec may be
found ia their in almost every town In tho terri
tory. Their oery, hair selves and cdiquhte "a kind
Of basset) in constant demand and readily seIl
among the citizens q. good prices Their tra.e extends
other Indians particularly the Comanches, with VIII nm
they barter for bunilo robes drcd meat horscs and
mules When tho Navajoes are at peace they procure
from them the most valuable horses
The Puelos have but few firearms. placIpg their main
reliance IN hunting and fighting on the bow and arrow
The chief requisites for warrior TINT tho carddats
must be healthy good and walker ard handle
tl,o y,nrwo ond f,tfv Mes al 1o
clnde among the warriors boys Of sixteen and m'n OF
fifty wears OF age and upwards
Each pneb!o has its patron saint whose nsmc, with
few exceptions, bcars, md whose anniversary tho in
habitants never fail 10 appropriately honor. On the
anniversary day great feas. takes place. and alter the
ceremonies Of The church over amusements OF many
kinds resoried ,ooot racinr, horse racine cock
nghiing dancing. &c Sonie OF tho pucolos are noted
above others FOR these eas and great numbers OF
Indians from distant towns GO thisher 10 enjoy the
amrscrncnte and share the horpfalities 81 81
In education these Indians fadly deficient Not
single place properly entitled the name or school IL
10 be found, nor teacher OF any capacity whatever
Several OF the puebos without single p rrson ablc
10 read or write, whiie among the few 10 be found In
others the greater number only read printed matter
Those who decrher manuscript and form letters are
far advanced In years and very few In number