Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-27

RELICS OF A CURIOUS PEOPLE-THE ANCIENT
CLIFF-BUIDERS AND THEIR DEsCENDANTS-IN-
DIAN CERAMICS AND 'FRENCH FLAT" TENEMENT
HousEs-NDIAN SUBSTITUTE FOR NIGHT-KEY-
LATE AT NIGHT.
1t is thought that within two months the new
National Museum building will be finished; but
an appropriation must then be obtain ID for
cases and interior fittings, and before everything
Is arranged and the great show Is ready for Its
prospective crowds OF visitors, another year will
doubtless be upon us. Meanwhile the speci-
mems which are to nh 1t lodge where they can.
Nine thousand and thirty eight cubic feet Of
fishery exhibit have gone to the Berlin Exposi-
ton. Other articles have taken refuge in dark
corners of the Smithsonian building: but the
main haven for wandering and homeless exhi-
bits Is the Armory, This building is the ugly
cocoon from which products of butterfly bril-
uancy, to the eyes of those who can appreciate
them are to issue at the proper time. Speci-
room equal In size to the Ethnological Hall, on
the second floor OF the Smithsonian building,
langu1sh here IN boxes. All the chronological
latest important addition to these exhibits is
valuable collection OF articles illustrating the
arts, manufactures, games, religious and social
practices OF
THE PUEBLos. OR VILLAGE INDIANS
Ii
New Mexico, Arizona, Southern Utah and South
ern Colorado. So little, comparatively, is known
OF these strange tribes that information con-
cerning them such as is derived from the study
or their products has all the novel interest of
new new page added to popular history: This col
lection Is the result of three months field work.
terminating last autumn, by an exploring party
sent out by Major J. w. Powell under the aus
plces OF the Smithsonian Institution. The
party consisted OF Mr.. James Stevenson, in
charge, to whose energy the large and varied
collection OF specimens is to be credited; Mr.. F.
d: Gushing, ethnolog1st; and Mr.: F. K. Killers,
Zunis, one of the Pueblo tribes, studying their
inner life, habits and customs, their social, re-
iigious and political organization. The copious
notes which he is making will be Illustrated by
colored sketches OF the people and their dances,
the interior OF their houses, their eagle cages
and other characteristic objects which will tend
80 enghten f The the public In to
esting people who inhabit our continent
few facts OF interest concerning them may be
mentioned TO advantage, preliminary TO any
ta1ned. OF the thirty Pueblo villages. some are
located on the banks of the Rio Grande, some on
the Rio Jemez, branch OF the Colorado, while
others are situated at various points in the in
terror wherever sufficient water was to be found
The Zuni village, which is the most extensive,
and, perhaps, the most interesting Of all, is
loeated d, on n. zun river about forty miles south
Zunis display high degree of both mechanical
and artistic skill. They speak distinct dialect.
and mngle but little with other people or tribes.
They are prosperous, each family owning do
meStic animals, such as horses, sheep or goats
small farm and peach orchard. The Zunis,
unlike many OF the other natives of that region,
claim relationship to
THE EXTINCT PEOPLE KNOWN AS CLIFF DwEIIERs
relics Of whom are so abundantly scattered
through the valleys of the Rio San Juan, Rio
Chaco, Canon De Chiefly and other localities.
The IDEA prevails among many OF the Indians
that the extinct races above mentioned, were
destroyed by some disaster permitted to visit
them by the Great Treat Spirit: For this reason, it is
own their unfortunate kindred, either fearing
that the tate OF their ancestors may establish a
precedent In the case OF acknowledged descend
ants, or merely exemplifying, unconsciously.
the moQerA tendency to snub ones poor rala-
llons. But the ZuniS, with uncivilized magnani-
nifty, concede that the Cliff dwellers were their
immediate ancestors. Some OF the tribe have
no theory as to the causes which led to the ex-
tinction OF their predecessors; others claim that
they were destroyed In great flood, from which
the Zunts escaped by fleeing to the summit of
high mesa, few miles distant from the site OF
two Of their number when the waters
OF the deluge had risen to the top Of the mesa
and were about to cover them. After the sacri-
hce continues the tradition, the waters receded
and the valley OF Zuni was left dry and inhabi.
table. Two large points close to the side of the
mesa, which have the appearance Of human
beings, are pointed out as the tombstones left by
the Great Spirit in memory OF the sacrifice made
by the Zunis. Coming down from the mesa the
tribe established a village at its foot; and this
part OF the tradition at least is capable of veri-
still quite conspicuous. Thence The tribe moved
few miles south and constructed town on
the top OF knoll In the center of the valley.
where they now dwell The Zuni village
Is A HUMAN ANT-HILL
half mile long and quarter OF a mile wide.
ha Of
in terraces, one on top of the other each sue
ceeding house receding sufficiently to leave the
top OF the house Immediately below to serve as
'front.' yard. For the sake of protection from
enemies enc MI the community ediice was built with
walls, ana The Zunis are only gradually adopt
ing modern means OF access by doors. One
fIa5 climbs rude ladder and enters his dwelling
are built one above the other to the number of
six or eight. There are numberless streets and
alley ways, passing under and between houses,
honey -combing this curiously complicated city.
There are also plazas OF courts used as dancing
or play grounds.
Two Or three thousand people live happily
ing the roof OF ones house Is the front yard of
his next-door neighbor III the expression may
De allowed when neither really owns such a
lning as sac doorl; notwithstanding that when
club-meeting he must climb over several houses
to get to bed II he lives above; notwithstanding
lnese ana Otner occasions of ill-temper easily
imaginable under the circumstances the Zunis
live peaceably. They are ruled by a governor
VINO Is elected every two years. The same gov
ernor may, however, serve a third term or any
number OF terms Their religious organization
is presided over by cacique, who is held to be
lnfallible He Is sometimes consulted in mat
tiers OF state when the emergency is such as to
cause the aid OF his supposed supernatural
to be deemed necessary. The woman
are industrious and attend to all Housekeeping
duties, and to them exclusively belong the arts
OF weaving, making pottery and gardening.
Ana these are the arts OF the products or imple-
ments of which the collection in question is
mainly composed.
The specimens are crowded on shelves and in
cases and on tables, In one corner of an upper
100r OF the armory. About quarter OF them |
are relics OF the extinct races, taken from
ruins. The remainder are modern. There are
TWO carved wooden images, angels or saints.
WIN enamelled faces, credited to the Spaniards
Out of
SEVERAL THOUSAND ARTICLES, |
many OF which have a general resemblance, |
there are no two which do not differ either in !!
shape or size. The most con-
spicuous specimens are the water jars, which |
are not unlike those used by the ancient Egyp- |
[ians. AS the women OF Zun1, dressed In their
peculiar garments, walk in line to the great |
well, each with one Of these ornamented Jars, |
holding several gallons, on her head, the scene |
IS picturesque and suggests the East, The well |
Itself is Egyptian in character 1t Is fifty feet /
duof focf in Hton,a