Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-10-24

each of the pueblos with cane, which is
sacred with them, and is always kept at
the house OF the President. ! said the
town was washed away. 1t was not all
washed away, the houses on that knoll aud
the old church standing on the hill at the
northeast corner of the town was left OF
course you will get out and look at it, for
it will pay you. The old heavy doors have
various csrvings upon them, including the
Spanish coat of arms. The image OF ST..
Dominick Santa Domingo), for whom the
pueblo is now named, is nearly life size ;
and on the annual festival august 4tb) is
taken from the chapel and carried in pro-
cession to temporary building, made OF
branches of trees and elaborately orna-
mented, and thare remains during all the
ceremonial dances, etc. This festival lasts
all day and is very interesting If you
arrange to be there at that time, do so, for
it will pay you.
That round house in the center of the
town is the council house, no one enters
there but councillors. 1t looks like the
gas works there is not a window In it.
Every man after he reaches the age of 40 is
a councillor. The Government is strictly
democratic Il use the word in its broad
sense), and each year, on the 25th of De-
cember, they elect Governor, war Cap
tain, VINO is the sheriff or policeman Cap
tain of Agriculture, who has charge of all
the farming operations and sees that the
men work Captain OF the Stock, who
has charge of that branch of the business.
They have no laws. When anything is
done that is wrong the council meets and
decides what the punishment shall be.
Their punishments are all by whipping.
If man refuses to work when he is ordered
to do so by the Captain of Agriculture, he
spots him and the council decides how
many lashes he shall receive. They are
strictly honest and temperate. never
saw one drunk. In their marriages they
are monogamisis one man can have but
one wife while she lives, Separations are
unknown. They are very happy in their
domestic relations. They are married by
the priest, as their religion is Catholic.
Cases of adultery are very rare, but when
it does occur the council decides how many
lashes they shall have, each one getting the
same, on their bare back. They whip
them nearly to death. Each councillor
gives them so many lashes. A boy of Is
and girl of Is can go to living together
without getting married, and can live so
until child is born, and then he must
marry ber. If he refuses they whip him,
and they keep on whipping him each time
harder and harder until he does marry her.
And so perfect do these laws work that up
to this time no complaint by one Pueblo
Indian against another has ever been made
in a Territorial court.
A priest looks out for their spiritual well
fare, and they have meetings once month.
The priest who has charge of this Pueblo is
a jolly fellow, and is one of "the boys
when he comes to town. To kill time, one
day in Wallace, went into saloon along
with friend to see this frontier life, so |
could describe it, and there he was takinga
hand, and they say he is one of the best
in the country. 1 do not
the game, but he could talk
about fulls, hushes, straights and pairs as
fast as any of them. But one of the boys
got &C corner on him; he was short
on the deal and he scalped him full.
handed. To me it sounded strange to hear
them calling him father and telling him to
" ante up" hope there are no more like
him. In order to make friends with the
Pueblos and help to convert them to their
religion the Spanish authorities granted
each Pueblo a tract of land measuring
three miles from each corner of the
Pueblo. This land is held in common, but
each man is bound to farm enough to
raise what his family will want, if he
ioes not, they whip him. The
Pueblos are all in the fruitful valleys
Each man owns his own stock At sunset
each day the people assemble on the square,
,r plaza, and the Governor from the house.
;op tells the people the news of the day
ust closing, gives the order for the next
lays work and adds what he can of gen.
'ral interest. In fact, he is the edition of
he evening newspaper, and reminds one of
he Scripture passages in regard to house
op proclamations. Under the Mexican |
Government they.voted and held office, but |
he United States Government gives them |
10 such right. They get no annuities from
ur Government, and have no Indian
gent. A large number of their children |
re attending the Government school here,
nd l am informed that they learn rapidly.
have thus very briefly tried to tell you
omething about those Pueblo Indians. In
ustrious and hospitable, they still retain
heir characteristics which were noticeable |
i the days of Cabegsde, Vaca and Corns-
o, and remain in the midst of surrounding
hanges the same, and are the most interest.
lg existing illustration of tie higher alb
riginal life of the native American people.