The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-07-30
PueblOs r. cling.

The march past ended, the governor
of San Juan-for each pueblo has
governor of its own nomination and
election gravely walked down to clear
the course. In his hand he bore as a
scepter what seemed to be a bottle of
whisky, but what in reality was
whisky bottle filled with gunpowder,
that he distributed as largesse to the
Indians with guns, and behind him
came company of guards in their
finest clothes, bearing green branches
and wearing-a part of them, at least
garlands of green leaves upon their
shocks of hair. These guards he dis
tributed, at intervals of hundred yards
or so, in couples along the course the
couples being taken, apparently, from
the opposite sides. This preliminary
being settled, tremendous old pa
triarch, with waving mass of gray hair
down to his shoulders and wrinkled be-
You'd all expression, stepped out midway
in the track, bearing in his hands an
ancient drum. He was clad eayly in
yellow buckskin legginas, a checked
shirt that he wore outside of them,
and a battered old straw lat, once
black, Tat be carried on his head as
proudly as kings in pictures wear their
crowns. With becoming dignity he
sounded long roll upon his drum, the
signal for the race to b, gin. Long before
he had finished two lads, the youngest
of the racers, had started out together,
and on an easy lope came down the
course, while the three OF four thou
sand spectators sent up ringing Yell.
AS the BOYS arrived at the goal, two
men started out, not together, but as far
apart as the boys were when they came
in. This was rather puzzling, but after
little investigation the principle of
the race was clear. The two sides were
divided, each into couples, one man of
each pair being at each end Of the track.
AS runner came il, his par ner at once
started out, while the partner OF the
far in the rear as the distance 10y which
the heat had been lost. The final VIC
tory rested with the side whose man
came in first on the final heat.
One advantage of this arrangement,
so far as the spectators were concerned,
was that the race was going on all he
time; and as the man behind frequently
overlook and passed the man who Lad
started out ahead. victory constantly
| trembled in the balance, aud from staff
TO finish the excitement was kept at
fever heat. For the most part the run
uing was magnificent. the 1.-THE forms
and vigorous muscles coming out
grandly under the spur of emulation
and the encouraging shouts of the
crowd. Indeed, the encouragement was
rather overwhelming, vigorous parti-
sans breaking through the line Of guards
| and coming close to the runners to
| shout "Aca!" "Aca |" "Our side p
'Our side !" The scene along the
course, meanwhile, was as picturesque as
it well could be. Pressing close upon
each side over its entire length was the
| brightly-dressed crowd of Indians and
| Mexicans, on foot and Oh horseback, bril-
| liant scarlet blankets and white robes
giving the high lights, while softer col
ors shone in the shawls and wraps of
the Mexican women, and 50 graded off
into the warm browns of the
ground and of the clay houses
! to the black sombreros of the men.
Higher up, along the roofs OF the houses,
the same color effect was repeated against
the brilliantly clear blue sky. And down
the wide lane, traversing the crowd from
end to end, the magnificent fellows
went tearing along as hard as possible.
1t was barbaric rendering of the
Olympian games.
But human nature, even Indian human
nature, cannot stand such tough work
as the runners accomplished for long at
a time, and in trife more than an
hour the racing came to an end; but
whether it was the peace or the war
party that was victorious ever will re-
main to me mystery. That the result
was unsatisfactory to somebody is Ger
tain, for after the race there was pleas
ant little impromptu fight between
Indians and Mexicans out on the plain.
Philadelphia Times.