The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-01-06
pondent.
FL. PAsso, New Mexico, Dec. 10, IS


To the Edtor OF the ESrrErRIsx.
In this strange old land of decaylng monuments and
ancient antiquities. the traveller Is constantly con-
fronting evidences of the skill and of who
centuries ago, occupied this Mississippi Valley
Who these people were whence they came. and how
In what manner they were swept out of existence.
lost In the Oblivion offorgetfuIness
The Pueblos have a known history dating back $50
years. while the Pecas Cathedral gives evidence of
being built in the 18th century These strange people
were worshippers. and to-day they keep up the
same heathen practices. One of the most novel
sights is Indian funeral. Wandering through the
beautiful valley of the Rio Grand short time since,
in company with fellow Bohemian, chance as much
anything. led us TO the Indian pueblo of IsleH.
which nestles the rivers bank "a dozen miles from
Albuquerque. II Is q curious town. resembling n
large collection Of lime kins wherein dwell a good
size branch Of the Pueblo family who, though
to owar and hostitcs. not in the least American
lied. During of the quiet days of our sojourn.
attracted TO the pscita of the town by an Inn
meme crowd gathering about little mud howell called
q chapel. We hurried along with Others, exercising
that American prerogative Of eibowing way in
through The crowd In front OF us, lying on the mud
door, was corpse, with head resting on red ban
danna- happy and peaceful smile was noticeable
upon his and brawny features. and In his land
firmly grasped- not the sword Of state. hut IN
stead nrge feather dyed IN all the hucs Of the
rainbow; pom his brow, the of power, but
two or three red and y,I ow ribbon rosettes The
nehcrmost extremity Of his red cotton shirt (worn
q sack.) was festooned with ribbons-yellos, green
and blue-and his tawny limbs from joint TO moccasin
were swathed in the same. had observed all these
details while the crowd singing II want to be an
anger or MARY had little lamb" couldn't tel
which. After the jubilee ovor. Mr.. Corpse was
carried to the burying field and gently deposited
on the ground to await the further action OF the
burial committee. The grave of decent dimen-
sions. and after short chant by the medicine man.
who acting charge d affairs" the deceased
warrior handed down to the two braves who had
placed themselves in the grave at either end They
laid him gently to his face the and then
climbed out No sweet flowers wero srrewn upon his
form by afectionate friends. inssead the heavy
| earth. seized by hundred hands, tLrown upon
his inanimate form. while the crowd Joined in the
chorus Goodbye, my Lover. Goodbye" Let me say
at this point parentheticsy that Imay have given
the hymns correctly owing to my being unable to
| derstand single word Of their language Shovel
| soon succeeded the hands, and when the body was
covered by about six inches of gravel brawny brave
got down into the grave with batteriEg post and
my utter astonishment. commenced SETTLING" the
corpse by pounding down the Garth with all the
strength of his sinewy arms While he perform
ing this aboriginal ceremony the crowd WAS nling OF
toward two large pottery Jars Of water and cleansing
their hands, which were reverenly held toward the
setting be dried. These jars then brought
TO the and the water empticd in it. More dirt
was thrown In and more pounding done, and thus
the ned; and depouent further withesseth
that Indian successfully planted that he viii
have poor show of getting out when the trump
| shall echo in the neighborhood OF Isleta.
Al the close of these impressive" exercises q pro-
c-ssion was formed and at its head the two braves
carried the empty jars. The llnc marched out
side the limits Of the town. nanked by my fellow -bo
heman and myself, and numerous children, the most
of whom by the way, clad only in natures garb
Once out of town the jars broken pieces
chiefs, and while they were intent their destruc
ton. the squaw of the deceased with great show Of
| secrecy threw away some Indian bread to feed his
hungry soul UPON its way to the happy hunting
grounds How II was going to get out of that grave
after having been pounded what has since greatly
perpexed my bohemian friend.
Throughout all the ceremony observed that there
spirit Of interest in the al air which smacsed
more Of curiosity than Of SORROW 1 informed
that this habit Of decorating with ribbons is general
among the Pueblo tribe. and that the widow often
disposes Of thirty forty yards, contribution to
peculiar appearance they presented when bedecking
Q dead man In Indian.
From lsleta my companion and 1 wandered South,
dowa tie valley OF the Rio Grande which certainly
tho iIosr odd and c,,ara-s~-t-iia a.,Intr,
ever saw. 1t is dotted all with little mud ham,
Inhabited by the wandering Mexicans who lead
bucolic life and depend entirely for their sub
| ststence their hocks- Through the valley
fows the Rio Grande, unlike any other river in
America a portion of the Arkansas.
Its shalowncss and Quicksands and muddy waters
its chief eharacteristics and immense nocks Of wild
fowl evcrywheie present. But the climate; what
shall say Of ftp That &c Is saubrous and semi -rop
icsl Is not enough. 1t is perfect-balmy the air
under italian skies. Imagine place where the
poet says. It 10 Cool but not cold and warm but
and you have fair idea OF the climate Of this
valley rs have found II during the winter mon hs
On either side Of the valley the mountains
as far as the ere reach. What goryeousness of
scenery II Il nowhere. eQuallcd. and what m ikes
It impressive these mountain ranges rich In
gold and silver The wealth OF the world Is in them,
and 10 waiting for the sturdy adventurers Hundreds
of men pouring In daily into this region. and
Is the time for rst pick this fact brings many
who otherwise would not come. The reason thess
mountains have not been worked before Is that New
Mexico has been far removed from all railroads
and markets. But this winter this regioa has been
opened up. and take the Kansas
City and go without change TO the very gates Of old
Mexico. Hundreds leaving Colorado to seek
richer mines and more equal climate In New
Me xfco
without Q Doubt this Is the nnest chance and the
richest mining region that the young and energetic
men Of America have ever had thrown open 20 them,