Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-01-27

from the Utah Indians and a fe
Navajo, pronounced Navajo, VII
lived in a raucharel a village) over
the mountains, came to see us. The
all treated us well, especially I'll
Utahs, who can nearly all speak Ens
lish. We bought some moccaSlns
them, and Mr.. Porter gave some re
and yellow paints TO them, whic
pleased them greatly. They all strip
their faces with paint to make then
selves look hideOus when they go o
the war path.
We seemed TO be passing aroun
several different spurs of the Rock
mountains rs we travelled on toward
Fort Union. We passed through
Fort Union on Sunday. This is tn
prettiest fort saw in the West. 1t
built of adObas (sun-dried bricks) ant
whitewashed with a species of sof
rock found in these mountains, which
they pound up fine and mix will
water. This l am told will last sew
eral years, and il makes a wall n
white as any paint. Beyond For
Union we passed through severa
I Mexican villages and settlements, anC
! occasionally an American ranch, un
| til we arrived at Las NegOS, one o
! the largest towns in New Mexico
/ Here we left the Santa Fee road anC
/ took a more southern direction to,
wards Albuquerque, on the RiC
! Grande Tor Grand river. We crossed
some mountains, but the country gen.
orally is a barren plain, almost desti-
tute of timber and water. The only
town of any Importance on this route
is AnthOucheco, situated in the valley
of the Pecos river, about midway be-
tween Las NegOs and Albuquerque
pronounced dAlbuFkerke). We passed
on over the Sierra Blancos, or White
mountains, down through Canon
Blanco pronounced Canyon Blanko)
to the Rio Grande at Albuquerque.
We were now by the route we went a
little over one thousand miles from
Kansas city, and n long road before
us yet. We staid here about a week
to rest and recruit up ourselves and
animals. There were here n few
Americans, mostly business men, but
not an American woman in the place
The Mexican women are very famil
lar and talkative, but the men are very
sullen, and would look daggers at us
when they would catch US talking
with their women. The Americans
are "muncha buennor with the wO-
men, and the men don't like il.
Some of the women of Mexico are
very beautiful, but the majority have
too much of the Indian blood in their
veins.
From Albuquerque we started for
Prescott, the capital of ArizOnia. \
great deal of the country along our
route now was a perfect sandy desert,
many places covered with volcanic
rock, great assures and openings in
the earth, evidences Of terrible volcan-
ic eruptions. / cannot give distanc
or dates in detail, rs l kept no diary.
therefore the distances 1 give from
memory and from general points.
We were now but six of us and two
wagons. 1t was a desperate under
taking, and l don't wonder that We
failed to get through. The Navajo
Indians had recently left the reserva-
ton at the Basky ROdunda, about
three thousand in number, and were
on the war path, and in rowing, thiev-
ing bands all over this country. 1t
was considered very dangerous for
even u large party to traverse this
route at this time, but we went on,
and l don't think we would have
turned back, but we met a party of
old miners coming back who gave us
such an awful account of the Indians
and country, that we concluded to re-
trace our steps and try another route.
On this route We passed through
a Mexican town on the Rio
PuercO, and Pueblo, an Indian town
Of several thousand inhabitants of
partially civilized Indians of the Pu-
eblo tribe, very peaceable, industri-
Ous tribe of Indians Cavarro, anoth-
er Mexican town of two or three hun
ired inhabitants, and Fort Wingate,
the last fort on this route in New Mex
leo. We went on as far as Zuni, vii
age about two hundred miles from
the Rio Grande. The Zunies are the
best Indians ever saw. They are To-
,ated in a beautiful valley between
TWO high ranges of mountains, and
iarm quite extensively. They raise a
good deal of wheat and corn, and all
kinds of vegetables. The chief can
ak some English, and takes much
1elight in telling white people of his
noble ancestry, and of the laws that
have been handed down to them from
he great MOnteZuma, whose descend |
lnts they claim to be. They have
many ancient traditions of tine times
If the great Chief Montezuma, and
wen prior to the settlement Of the
Spaniards in this country. Some are
fictitious, others no doubt are true. |
While we remained at Zuni, about /
5wenty old miners came in from
Prescott and gave us such a horrible F,
account Of the country and the Indi- Z
ms, that we concluded to turn back /
md go away down the Rio Grande F.
md take the old California trail. Z
When We parted with the Zuni Indi-
ms to return, many of them came out /
md shook hands with US, and wished /.
Is a safe journey. They are some .
what divided between the Roman
Catholic and Protestant religions.
They have never been at war with
he whites, except the Spaniards many
years ago. Take them all in all they
ire the best Indians ever saw.
We returned by the route We came
Is far as Ellereeta. thirty-five miles
rom the Rio Grande, then bore off
more to the southwark and struck the
Rio Grande at Las Luna, about forty
miles below Albuquerque. The
MeXicans always live in little towns
md villages for better protection from
.he Indians, who frequently make
raids on them and murder the men,
steal their women and drive off large
herds of cattle, sheep and goats.
Fourteen thousand head of sheep
were stolen from one man few DAYS
before we passed Ellereeta the second
time. They drive them to the noun
tain pastures, where they are perfectly
safe from pursuit. The Navajo
squaws weave very fine blankets
from the wool. They make them so
thick and close that they will hold
water. Their looms are very simple,
little sticks driven in the ground to
the warp, and the wOOf is
passed through with their fingers and
beaten together with little sticks. 1t
takes them about one year TO weave
one blanket in this way. The squaws
wear a short gown, from the waist ex-
down to about the knees, no
other garment unless Il white man
should come about, and then they
generally throw n blanket over their
We passed through towns and viii
lagos almost every day now until we
got to Fort Craig. i have forgotten
the names of many of them, and some