The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-26
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and forms the only approach 70 tho tom,
which is built directly on ton Of i, A. uo,,
ascend this slope you see what anne.r. 80 =.
high wall. completely barring t ,e wav nm,
which is in reality the back of the outer row
of houses. In this wall there Is but ,ne
opening. "a low archway; passing through II.
you find yourself in dark, narrow tunnel of
about two hundred feet in length, emerging
from which you are fairly within the town.
The town consists of several plazas, or
squares, connected by tunnels under the
houses. Around these plazas are built very
compactly tue houses of the natives, all Of
which are built of adobe, consist OF one story,
and have flat roofs; there are sometimes as
many as four or five such houses built one
on top OF The others. The front of each of
the upper stories, or houses recedes from the
one Immediately below it like a gigantic
flight of stairs forming a promenade
on the roof OF the preceding house.
Thus while the houses, on the first floor are
very wide and roomy, they grow narrower in
proportion to their height; consequently, as
in more civilized cities, the richer classes oc-
cupy the first floor. while poverty gradually
retreats to the upper stories. As all the
buildings in the town are connected, these
proTenades form the streets, on which most
OF the business is carried on. As in most
southern countries. the inhabitants pass the
greater portion of their time out of doors.
and you may see on the roofs of the houses
groups OF women grinding wheat In their
clumsy hand mills, weaving the far Gus Ma
vajo Blankets combing and braiding their
long black hair. and pursuing oil the domes-
tic duties of their life. A large number of
the houses of the town have. chained in fir mt
OF their doors, eagles, which, being caught
when young. constantly confined and fed on
raw meat, become yer, savage and ansv er
excellently he purpose of watch dogs.
The lowest house of all rarely has door
opening ON to the plaza, but has ladder
leading to the top of the first story, in tie
fiat roof Of which there IS an oLerinc with
another ladder, by which the descent into the
house is accomplished; these ladders are so
numerous as to form very prominent tea
ture of the town. The inhabitants Of Zuni
esaS HoHS udi Va iuCuiuiD utIGut, duu TdL0er
warlike than otherwise, though they gener-
ally act on the defensive, a1d are inclined to
be peaceable If let alone. They subsist by
agriculture, having extensive peach orchards
and cornfe!ds, in the vast plain sur
rounding their city. These orchards
and fields are rovided with watch
towers. by means OF which their sentines
can give notice OF the approach of al enemy,
Will he is yet long way off. IS with other
| Indian tribes, most of the work il done by
the women, the men spending large portion
of their time in hunting. They are armed
with bows and arrows, spears, AID few fire.
arms OF poor qualify, called Indian guns
which are sold to them by Mexican traders.
In religion they are ''sun worshippers'', ard
may be seen every morning just before sun
rise, in devout attitudes, on the fat roots of
their houses, patiently awaiting his appear
ance; they are taught by their priests, that
on some morning instead Of the sun, their
great king ''Monte.uma" will rise out OF the
east, AID that when be comes, he will restore
them to their former greatness and glory.
In their temple. the inside of which no
stranger is allowed TO see, is kept burning
continually, ''the sacred fire., originally
lighted from the SUI. To keep this burning
t,ere is certain family set apart, after the
manner of the Levites.
THE agricultural implements of the Zunis
are OF the lost primitive and clumsy con
struction. Their plow is merely the forked
limb OF tree, one ann of which Is sharp
ened. Their method of thrasbing, is by
driving their cattle. sheep, and horses back
and forth over the wheat, after it has been
spread upon some hard, level piece OF ground;
windy day is generally selected for this
| operation that the chaff may be blown away.
| Amongst other curiosties of the town, are
three persons who are perfectly white, have
faxen hair, blue eyes, prominent cheek
bones, and in all respects regular Scotch fea-
lures. Theycan give no account of themselves,
except that they are, ''the white Indians"
The Oldest traditions of the Zunis, mention
this white family as having lived among them.
Their blood has been kept pure down to the
present time, by their never having been al
lowed to intermarry with their darker color
ed brethren. As there are now but two men
andone woman of this curious race, it bids
fair ere long to become extinct
The Zunis are friendly towards the whites
and Hospitality welcome strangers of that col
| or who visit their town. K.
|