The Bossier banner., 1881-04-14
Zuni, New Mexico.

One hundred and ninety miles south
west of Santa Fe, ten miles from the
Arizona line, fifty miles west of the di-
viding ridge of the continent-called, in
consequence, Sierra Madre--is antique
Zuni, city of memory. 1t is one of the
seven vanishing cities sought by Cor
onado 1910, and by wandering knights
from Spain and Portugal in the time of
Philip Second. Capital of the tabled
kingdom of Cibola, it is the most an
cient and most interesting, because the
least changed, of all the pueblos of New
Mexico. -t..-
When Governor-General Vargas and
his gallant little army reached this
pueblo, they halted for rest and recruit
ing, before pressing on to the City of
Holy Faith. The General was accom-
panied by his secretary, the beloved
Antonio Eusebio, and they must have
looked with the deepest concern at the
stout walls of the strange fortress.
have not been able to learn whether he
attacked it or not. Even successful
and intrepid leader, with the help Of
the red allies, used to savage warfare,
would deliberate well before besieging
that city set on a hill, which must be
carried by assault in the face of arrows,
sings, lances, huge stones rolled from
above, and burning balls of cotton
dipped in oil. The modern Zuni, COM
pact town of 1,500 souls, stands in the
center of the valley of the Colorado
Chichito (Little Red River); but ancient
Zuni, now in ruins, was several miles
away. on the top of mesa, or precipice,
one thousand feet high, almost inacces-
sible from the valley. 1t was built
in five stories, with thick walls of stone
laid in mud mortar, terraced from with
out and fortified by towers. A formi-
dable citadel. r.H t45 m
The camp of the victorious army was
probably in the present camping ground,
a choice spot, where grass grows with
that of richest green, lovely to the eye
as fresh lilies-a garden beauty. skirt
ing the spring of cool, sweet water,
about fifteen miles from old Zuni. To
reach it from Santa Fe, the traveller of
to-day crosses country very beautiful
and fertile, where rapid change of geo.
logical structure makes varying change
OF scenery. Maize grows in the valley
without irrigation not an acequdia in
sight; and peaches planted by the Jesuit
Fathers, are deliciously sweet After
straining over sand and rock in the hot,
white sun-glare, with the fever-th thirst
which comes from drinking alkali water,
it must have been a deep pleasure for
the soldiers to leave the trackless plain
and lie in the cool, rich grass, restful
alike to jaded steed and warrior rider;
to feast their eyes on the delicate enamel
of green-the setting of this Diamond
of the Desert; and watch, as we have,
the birds of strange note and plumage
coming and going, with merry twitter,
tiirt and t1utter to bathe and drink in
the sparkling fountain.
. Enchanting effects of light and color
vary the passing hours. A rose-blush
Of exquisite haze greets the rising sun;
and the mirage marvellous of
Nature s smysteries-often swims in mid
air in early morning, when the first
warm flush has faded. The perfect
blue curtaining the valley is jeweled with
opal and turquoise. That ethereal bril-
lance allows no sc middle tones" The
sun sets as on the Nile, and when the
faring disc sinks low suddenly the hid
den splendor is unveiled-a vision sent
from afar, that mortals may feebly learn
how beautiful is the floor of Heaven
Mrs. Geo. W. Wallace, IN the Independ-
ent za,r 5.-.-