The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-04-15
THE PUEBLO INDIANS.
Hon. They Lire in Ne,r Merico at the Pres
emf Time.

reached high form of civilization b
fore Columbus thought of sailing f'
America is well known to every schola
but there has been considerable difficult
experienced in attaining to anythin
like a clear understanding of either tn
history or operation of first civilization
Recent explorations in New Mexico
under the auspices of the United State
government, have done not little t
shed light upon the subject. Not onl
have extensive rumors of old India
cities been discovered, but the Tao
Pueblos Indians at present living presen
in their modes of life and tradition fea
lures that are in the highest degree sug
gestive.
| San Fernando de Taos is north O
Santa Fe, and situated in a river vale,
which was at an early date fixed upon a
a residence by tine Pueblos. Additions
were gradually made until it became on,
one of the strongest places in New Mex
leo. An immense building of adobes, OF
mud bricks, is placed on each side of the
stream. Each story covers less grouno
than the one below, so that the building
forms rectangular pyramid seven stories
high. The entire building covers a space
three or four hundred feet long, and a
hundred and fifty feet wide. Ladders lead
from the ground to the first roof, from
that to the second, etc, and the en-.
trance to the houses is by means OF a
trap-door in the roof. These Indians
have their story of furious wars and
stout resistance to the invasion, but they
are and have always been an agricultural
people, and have large fields of grain and
orchards. The Taos Pueblos sell about
5000 bushels of fine wheat year. In
character they are above the wandering
tribes. Children are treated with affec-
ton, women are not beasts of burden,
and they have strict laws against crime
For some centuries they have been I'M
der the teaching of Catholic missionaries,
but though they have ostensibly en-
braced the religion of Rome, they have
never abandoned the worship of the sun.
Every morning and night they gather on
their housetops, chanting hymns of
praise to this orb, as he departs and re-
appears. These hymns are inexpressibly
sad and mournful, though beautiful and
melodious, and similar in character to
the droning song, in minor key, of the
negro; the words appear to be success
sion of nonosyllables with frequent repe-
titions.'
Ancient habits are preserved in other
respects also. The Indians show as great
a fondness for keeping birds as the
Aztecs. Eagles are still looked upon as
sacred to Montezuma. Old stone nipple
ments, reported to date from the time of
Mentezuma, are still handed down as
heirlOoms. In their estutas, or council
chambers, sacred fire is kept burning,
and from a peculiarly sweet aromatic
odor in one of these rooms it was inferred
that sweet-smelling grass or wood is used
in their rites as incense.
The Pueblo government is divided be-
tween spiritual and temporal ruler.
The cacique, or high priest, solemnizes
marriage, end in fact must be consulted
even before betrothal can take place. He
also Furnishes for crimes against religion,
but has no authority in temporal affairs.
Great reverence is paid the priests by
the people, and the young men draw lots
each year to see who shall take care of
the cacique; success being esteemed
mark of good fortune. The alcalde, or
temporal ruler, carries a cane which
serves both as mark of authority and a
means of inflicting punishment. In adj
dition there is a war chief who is respon-
sible for the public defence. tbs notice
able that this individual exhibits the
only faint of feudalism to be found in
their government He holds his office
by hereditary right, and claims his own
ership of the hunting-grounds near the
village.
The villages of the Pueblos are suffer-
ing from the spread of fanatical reli-
gious order, which, though ali out-growth
of the Catholic religion, is unavailingly
opposed by the priests. 1t is secret So
ciety called the Penitentes," whose OBJ
jects are not well understood. In fact,
nearly all that is known of them is that
the society is composed of lodges indie
pendent of each other, and that self-pun-
ishment for sin seems to be their main
object. Their penances rival those of
devotees in India. 1t is not unusual for
one of these devotees to PROSTATE himself
at the steps of the church. so that all
who enter tread on his body But it is
at the season of Lent that the most no.
ticeable ceremonies are performed. In
holy week the members of lodge meet
together. and after prayers and chanting
form a procession, some carrying whips
made of fibres of Spanish bayonet and
soap-root, with which they beat them
selves and each other until their backs
are covered with blood. Some members
have been chosen for scapegoats, and,
stripped nearly naked, carry huge crosses
vi HtdNy ne
takes its way to the Calvary, wide cross
placed in a field, half a mile or a mile
from the lodge. and as they pass along
the more enthusiastic lie down and allow
their fellows to walk over them. In that
mountainous region the suffcrings of the
nearly naked devotees are often height
ened by the fact that deep snow lies on
the ground. Deaths frequently occur
from the severity of the fiagellations and
exposure. The methods of this penance
are the same as those of the ancient
Flagellantes," but sclfinhicted tor
lures were an integral part of the abo
riginal religions, and the Penitentes >
probably exhibit combination of hea
| then and christian observances.