Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-05-07
Antiquity in New Mexico.


greater purity than their brethren farther
South, the traditions and ceremonies Of the
sun wOrshipers and deyil-wOrshipers that
once inhabited the entire southeastern pdri
Of the continent. They are called Pueblo
Indians, or Village Indians, TO distinguish
them from the wandering tribes whom they
resemble In but few points, and TO whom
the are decidedly superior. By recent
census they number 10,6l3, inhabitng 20
pueblOs, the most populous OF which are
the MOqui IN Arizona, numbering 800,
and the Znni IN New Mexico, numbering
1900.
Il was the ancient practice Of these peo-
pie to build very large and high houses for
greater security against the predatory
bands about them. The main building Of
the Taos pueblo Is FIVE stories high, built
in the form Of parallelogram, haYing each
story smaller than the one below it, enter
ed by ladders on the outside, and capable
OF accommodating three hundred people.
In other pusblos the main building was
semi-circulRr, 10 others square, sometimes
perched upon almost inaccessible cliffs,
and again hidden 10 secluded valleys, al
ways built Of adobe, sun-dried brick, and
always designed not for a single family,
but for a considerable portion Of the tribe.
After their submission to the Spaniards,
some Of them were forced TO come down
from their mountain homes aud build
houses OF smaller dimensions IN the val
leys.
From .he researches Of the present labor
ious and reliable Indian Agent for these
people, Hon. B. NJ. Thomas OF Sante Fe,
several interesting facts about their gov
ernment may be stated.
Each pueblo is independent. The chief
officer is the Caeique who is the first Off
Ger OF church and state, priest Of MonteZu.
ma, and director OF all the temporal affairs
of the pueblo. He holds his office for life,
and soon after his accession appoints his
successor. Aided by four principals,
whJm he himself selects, he appoints the
other officers, viz: the governor, who is the
chief executive officer, the alguaeil, OF
sheriff, who keeps the peace, the fiscal
mayor, who has care OF the ordinary relig
ious ceremonies, and the Captain de Ia Gu
ma, and his lieutenants, who look after the
public welfare in various particulars. DR.
Thomas has found no evidence to sustain
the assertions that the right Of suffrage il
exercised by the people. All officers, say,
the cacique, retire after years service
but they may be reappoinled. Grim,
among the people is rare. Their long sub
jugation has given them the aspect Of d
OrUken-spirited race. They are industrious
independent Of government aid for theil
support, possessed OF moderate property
and somewhat skillful in agriculture anC
the arts Of pottery and weaving.
1t is very difficult to ascertain their re
ligous belief regarding sacred fire, sun
worship, deyil-wOrship and the adoratiol
Of Montezuma, whose second coming som
of them are said to await with great faitI
and patience.
Rev. John Menaul, the faithful Presby
terian missionary at the pueblo Of Laguna
says that though the Spaniards compelei
the people to build large churches, an,
were accustomed, till very recent years, L
| whip them to make them attend mass, ye
they conceded so much to them as to orna
ment the churches with their heather SYN
| bols.
'In the church at Laguna," he says
"the canopy above the altar consists Of
painting OF the sun, represented rs an oil
man, with rainbow and the moon ant
stars about him. These are the chief o
| the heavenly Indian gods. On each sid
of the church through its whole length, ar
paintings of objects of Indian worship, a
mountains, trees, plants, flowers, animals
| representing the lower, or earthly Indian
gods. Only the back of the altar is occu
pied with Catholic symbols, as the Virgin
saints, angels, and the infanJ SAVIOR"
In accordance with the general polio.
| dhd effort of Catholic missionaries through
out the world, they sought by baptiznl
the heathenism Of these people 10 maxi
them Christians; but the heathenisn re
mains in very repulsive and debasing forms
| Mr.. Menaul says further, "These people
are pantheists in every sense Of the word
They worship the sun, moon, and stars
the rainbow, fire, water, rivers, mountains
| trees, stones, snakes, bears, and animali
generally. For all these there are priests
and they summon whom they please t.
their assistance. Children are dedicated
in infancy to this service and Others dedi
cate themselves later in life. Men and wO
men have to leave their families night aud
day for weeks at time, closed uP in darl
rooms, practcing the internal inoantatiOni
OF their faith, and doing things which
even the heathen eye may not be permttel
to look upon"
The law OF ancient custom binds the peo
pie, both in the letter and the spirit, will
great eXactness and tyranny. They pillow
reap, SOW and dance just as and because
their fathers did. Tothe extent OF thei
power they have rejected everything Span
ish and Mexican out of regard to their an
cestors, and this has served to prevent in
termixture with the tribes about them, ant
preserve the remnants OF their anclen
faith. 1t will no doubt hinder educationa
and Christian work among them, but ther'
are many signs that when they ascertain
who their real friends are, it will disappear
| During the past year some OF them hayu
obtained fine freight wagons, and ever
| buggies, and they are willing that school,
should be established among them.
Through tho efforts Of the agent, d.
Thomas, four schools, with seven teachers
! three of whom are physicians, have beel
within three years established in ditferen
| pueblOs, and some Of these schools hay
averages OF forty scholars. Last summe
| the teachers OF the Catholic school in thi
| city, gained considerable credit by the eX
cellent manner In which certain boys from
Indian pueblos acquitted themselves, ]
was soon asoertained that orders had bee
given by the priests that some Of tn
brightest pupils in Mr.. Thomas school
should be sent TO Santa Fe for further ed
ueation, and il had been done. 1t is bet
Ter TO build upon another's foundation
than not to build ut all but as the CathC
lies have had these people in hand tire
hundred years without instructing then
it seems right to suspect the true oharaC
ter Of their new. born zeal for their in
provement. Our friends of that ohurcl
when, in reading the signs of the timei
see that education must come, are quit
ready to build school-hOuses and cOntr,
the movement they cannot defeat.
The great want now in the education {
the children of the Indian pueblos is
boarding school. While the daily life Of
pupil is amid scenes OF fheathenism, he cal
NOT advance very fast OF far. The sueoe