Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-12-18
LIFE IN NEW MEXICO.
The Taos PueblOs.
BY REV. SHELDON JACKSON.

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The one thought that pervaded all
minds at the time of my visit to Taos,
was the coming feast of st. jerome
among the Pueblo Indians. They are
called Pueblo jewellers in townsl TO
distinguish them from the rowing
tribes. AS at the great annual gath.
erings tf the Jews, all the national
roads leading up to Jerusalem were
thrunRed, so, at Taos, they gathered
in from all the neighbOring nations.
Inquirfng my way along q bind tran,
I was told to follow the crowd. The
way was thrOnged with Mexicans, on
foot and on donkeys, families in rude
wooden OK. carts. lumber wagons and
carriages, Apache braves, with their
favorite squaw, gayly dressed, on the
horse behind them, Navajo beaux,
with bright colOred autumn leaves
bound around their heads, and in front
of them, on the brouchO, Indian
beIles, magnifcently got up with
beads and brass wire, Ute Indians,
from camp retainers to the villainous
old chief who turned up his nose at
the last peace delegation, and told
them thai be did not believe they ever
came from Washington, Pueblos, in
their best toilets, Americans, Ger.
mans and Frenuh, gathered in, until
the town was wild with excitement.
AT length the day dawned, and the
multitude sWarmed out to the Pueblo,
some two or three miles distant. Ar
irving at the village. we were face TO
face with two great adobe houses, six
stories high, aud irTegularly built.
These two buildings are the home of
this tribe. WI en-, in 1880, the span
iards forced their way up the valley oil
the Rio Grande, these buildings were
standing in the same condition thst
thew are now, and inhabited by the
same race of people, with substantial
ly the same customs. How many
more cen uIies they have stood tradi-
ton does not say, and the people have
no written language. --t
Ascending series Of ladders from
the outside, and standing upon the
roof of the toDmost story, before us
Law the broad valley of the Rio Grande,
the radiating point OF our earlier
American civilization, where, in an
cient times, may have fiourished em
pires THAT would vie in power with
the Babylonian or Persian, and cities
that might have rivaled Ninevt b
for of these empires and these cities,
the plains of Asia now exhibit fewer,
and even less imposing relics, than
are found of the former Inhabitants OF
this territory At our feet was q
gathering of tribes and nations, such
as, perhaps, could be found at no other
point in the United states.
The great plaza was crowded with
them. In the center Of the plaza was
a tall CREASED pole, crowned with
live sheep, bottles of wine, melons
and dry goods. To the north was q
booth erected for the Virgin Mary and
st. Jerome, while they watched the
games. First came high mass at the
Roman Catholic church. Twelve In
dian warriors stood as sentinels at the
door, and discharged their guns al
various parts OF the service, while an
other warrior pounded the stationary
beIl upon the root. While a portion
of the Indians were in the church,
another portion we're in the Estufas
(heathen temples), invoking their
deities for SUCCESS in the approaching
games.
Mass being said, coarsely dressed
doll Virgin Nary. and q smaller one
tSt. Jerome), with doll baOy infant
Jesusl in his arms, were brought Out
and carried under canopy Of silk, in
procession, to the booth, where they
could overlook the Tace-cOurse. As
the procession reached the booth, a
series of howls and short, quick barks
were heard, as the racers emerged
from an esttifd, which hOwls were an
svered by q similar series Of barks
fIom the opposing company, SIS they
came out of their eSttgd across the
creek. The racers were naked, with
the exception of the breech-eloth,
their bodies besmealed, sumo with
yellow and others with drab- eolored
clay. Some were creased, and then
feathered. Some had line OF grease
with feathers adhering to the grease,
under the left arm and over the right
shoulder, representing sash. One or
two had a row of eagle feathers around
the waist, and all had tied around The
neck, wrists and ankles blade OF
Spanish bayonet. Forming in pro-
cession, and led by the music OF drums
(which drums resembled beer kegs
with hides pulled over tbem), they
slowly danced, with short, CULTURAL
barks, and the strewing of branches,
to their position.
During mass, thirty or forty half
drunken Mexicans had been reckless
ly riding up and down the course,
iourishinga a live rooster, and attempt
ing to snatch il from one another but
the course was now cleared, and the
foot-raeina. commenced. Both sides
of the course were lined with teams
and spectators, and every standing
point on the terraced roof Of the
houses was occupied. The races over.
the Indians danced back TO their es-
titfds. The crowd upon the IoOf-tops
Delted the crowd below with water
melon rind, aud the forenoon show
was over. .....-4 4
Later in the afternoon there were
more races. and the climbing of the
CREASED poie. after which the images
were committed for safe-keepihg TO =
new family for the ensuing year, and
are supposed to bring good luck to the
household that has them in charge.
The crowd surged back to Taos, to
consume the night at the fanuango
and ming tables. After supper the
tables were removed, ana dancing
commenced. The fiddler occupied one
end of the hall and the barkeeper the
other. Every one that danced was
expected, at the close OF each set, 10
patrOnize the bar. MANY of the women
took their full share Of "TaOs light
ming, and, as might be supposed, the
whole company became uproarious
before morning. Both sexes smoked
.jncSssantIy. When 4 woman rose to
dance, she handed her cigarette TO
friend. While the Mexican women
were dancing, smoking and drinking
with American men, the Mexican
men were in adjoining rooms gam
bIffig land 50 ended the most holy
feast Of st Jerome.n
The. next morning our party, with
carriage ambulance and transporta-
orrWa9on, and two Outriders, hled
out of town.. How we got back to Ft
Garland, how that baby, that made
one of the party, got up and down
those hills, our experiences among
outlaws and vermin at Red River
Zone Of the most despicable places in
all the country, must remain untold
There are now nineteen towns or
pueblos in different portions OF New
Mexico. These Indi' ms claim to be
the descendants Of the Aztecs, who,
about the year 1900, dispossessed the
Toltecs. and became masters OF nearly
all of Mexico, Their empire culmln-