The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-11-03

A GLANCE AT THE TERRIToRY-sANTAFE -T
ANTIQUITIES, AND THE CUSTOMS OF TH
PEOPLE.
/ Especial correspondence Of VIRaINIAN.
SANTA FE, New MEXICO.
October 10, 1881. {
New Mexico is as large in area as Ne
York, Pennsylvania and New jersey, Wit
room enough left in the corner to tuck ava
all of the New England States without GROVE
ing. 1t embraces twenty-seven million acre
Of territory. 1t was ceded to the Unite
States in 1S48, and organized under territori'
| government in 1850. Its name was given
over three hundred years ago by Spaniard Sc
lers from Old Mexico. 1t has an antiquity {
rare interest, for, although its history ha
been imperfectly written, it is known to hav
been formerly inhabited by an industrious an
cultured people. About the tenth century tn
Toltecs, race supposed to have come fron
the north, occupied the country. They wer
driven out by the Aztecs in the year 1906
The latter were savage, superstitious, an
brutal people, whose religious fanaticism re
! quired the annual sacrifice of several thousan
I human beings These barbarians occupies
| the territory until the conquest by Cortez il
1859. The Spaniards then took possession G
| the land, enslaved the Aztec population, an
held undsputed sway until 1850. Their cruel
| ties and eXactions caused the great India
revolt Of that year, which resulted in the re
| establishment of the native government an
religion. One hundred and fifty years elapse
before the Mexican Spaniards regained su
premacy, and established the government
| which existed when the territory became
part of the United States.
The country consists of barren mountain
| ranges and elevated plateaus The great deartl
of water will always present an insurmounta
BILE obstacle to it's agricultural development
and unless wild sage brush is conceded to b.
nutritious food, its grazing interest will con
tinue to languish. The lower portions of thu
Territory are admirably adapted to the growth
Of fruit, and the Valley Of the Rio Grand'
promises to be wine producing region which
in the near future, may rival the southern
provinces of France.
Whenever sufficient supply of water car
be obtained for irrigation, wheat, corn, barley
and the harder vegetables can be successfully
grown, and this list seems to comprise the
agricultural productions of the entire Territoy
The mountains are supposed to contain rict
deposits of precious metal and quantities o.
less valuable mineral But these sources Of
wealth have so far been imperfectly developed
and the opinions of biologists constitute the
most definite proofs we yet have of their ex
stence.
There are at present in the Territory
about one hundred and fifty thousand Mexi-
cans who speak their own language, follow
their ancient customs, and live precisely as
their forefathers have done for many centuries
They are most undesirable class of citizens
being treacherous indolent, superstitious and
uncleanly, much given to gambling and strong
drink, and thoroughly devoid of ambition
OF manufactures they are ignorant, and their
agricultural processes are absurdly primitive
The pillow they use consists of a rude pole
with block on the end. The point of the
pole projecting into the ground, cuts up the
soil, in soft places, to the depth of two inches
This they consider excellent work. When the
wheat is ripe they cut it with sickle, the
point of which is invariably broken off, be-
cause, they say, if lett the full length it catch
es toe much grain and the work is tedious
When the crop is in, and threshlng time ar
rives, they invite their neighbors from all
quarters to come and bring their horses, mules
and cattle. The grain is placed in the centre
of large corral, the animals turned in and
frightened around the enclosure by the most
unearthly din made by the assembled crowd
Gradually the grain is trampled from the
straw. Then comes day or two of winnow-
ing by throwing the chat into the air with
wooden forks, and the wind aiding the separa-
ton, the wheat is collected and is ready fol-
crushing beneath the coarse grndstones which
by courtesy, we call mill Woe to the man
who has better crop than his neighbors
All of his poor relations live with him until il
is exhausted.
Of the towns in the Territory, the first il
age, size, and historical interest is Santa Fe
1t was old when st. Augustine was founded
and q Ouahaa'c birth If bnacted ita anti0l1ItU
1t looks like a large and prosperous brick
yard, where innumerable kiins await theil
turn at burning. The buildings are all o.
adobe, and without architectural adornment
An adobe is piece of sun-dried mud, usually
made nine inches wide, eighteen inches long
and four thick. Of these debies, as Ameri
cans pronounce the word the walls of the
houses are made, a mortar of soft mud being
used to hold them together. Poles are the1
laid across the top, and loose earth shovelet
on for roof A dirt floor, small door,
window or two, and fireplace in the cornel
complete the edifice. The fences, barns, anC
outhouses are all constructed OF the same ma
terial, and present hideous monotony o
shape and color which, / imagine, is excessive
ly irritating to an artistic eye. The streets arr
narrow, irregular and unpaved, and the roof
of the houses Invariably project over the side
walks. Santa Fe has many interesting build
ings with traditions which would repay inves
tigation. The old San Miguel church, which
was erected in 1852, is still standing, and i
weekly used by its Catholic congregation
The only religion is the Catholic, and, strang
to say, nine-tenths of the priests are French
men. The "Old Palace" is still in excellen
| repair. In it lived and ruled the Spanish Cap
tain General, so remote and inaccessible from
the viceroyalty at Mexico, that he was il
effect kinr nominal Iv accountable To tn,
viceroy, but practically beyond his reach ant
CONTROL and wholly irresponsible directly t.
the people. Here met all the provincial, terri
torial, departmental and other legislative bodie
that have ever assembled in the Capitol o
New Mexico. Within it's grim mud wall
many hundreds of death sentences have beer
pronounced, and the victims led away ant
executed at the dictum Of the man at the pal
ace. The history of this old establishment
the condensed history Of the Territory, for it
rude walls have witnessed the drama of (
semi-barbaric life through several centuries.
The Santa Fe of to-day swarms with Mexi
cans, Indians, Halfbreeds, French Jews anG
Chinese Tho not much Of business centre
it is crowded with gambling houses, saloon
and dance-halls. The native population i
passionately devoted to dancing. Public ball
and private dances are conducted in the sam
manner A slow waltz is generally most pop
ular, and the music IS always execrable. Th
ladies are allowed to smoke in the ballroom
but the gentlemen must confne themselves t,
chewing tobacco. There is small table nea
the door in private houses upon which ar
placed apples, pieces of candy, nuts, ginger
pop and other delicacies. At the conclusion
of each Dance the gentleman is constrained
by etiquette, to conduct the lady to the tabl
| for refreshments. She always takes as nue.
as she can get, and Immediately runs off t.
place her earnings in the care of one of tn
old grannies, who is placidly sitting by tn
wall smoking the contemplative cigarette. TIL
gentleman is meanwhile settling bill of hal
a dollar with the hospitable host. The ex
penses are thus cleared, and each man pays 70
the amount of dancing he gets. The lad
never refuses any partner who solicits tn
honor. A perfect stranger may approach he
and be greeted with bland smile of assent a
she hands her half-smoked 'cigaretta" to
neighbor preparatory to sailing off in eth
giddy mazes."
A most phenomenal characteristic of Mex
can women is the fact that they talk rarel
and seldom giggle. They invariably muf1
their faces in thick shaWls thrown loosel
around the neck, but those have had an or
portunity of seeing were dirty, ugly and re
pulsive looking No Mexican gives audibl
evidence of enjoyment Their amusement
are mournfully solemn to an outsider. Thei
ideal of perfect bliss is to sit in the sun wrapr
ed in blanket, and smoke until they fa
asleep They are partial to domestic animals
The poorer the man the more dogs he pos
cnccec and IN an averare there are ten to ean