The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-05-17
sflanitowof pilot.
THURSDAY, MAY IT, 1888.
Pueblo indian Traits.

To sum up the Pueblo's character in 6
few words, and 10 omit many illustra-
tons which might amplify the hasty
enumeration of his more general traits
We found him social in disposition
clever as an artificer, shrewd at bar.
gain, gentle in his family controlled by
the precepts of the elders; maintaining
a system of government curi0usly com.
plete in al fundamental principles OF
law; a shepherd. caring for immense
focks of goats and sheep; an agriculture
list; and, withal, an Indian, pridine
himself in the mark; still using the bow.
the eagle plumes, the barbaric fneries
of dress; and. though following up festal
DAYS TO the level of the brute in the OBJ
servances of his heathenish rites, vet sell
dom committing upon his fellow any act
of injustice or cruelty. Recalling the
goat-skin which he sold us as CHINA
mon bear hide, we smile and forgive
him; as well as for the theft of the
missing sketch-book-we regard the lat
ter as indicative of promising tenden-
cy toward art. But when we bring to
mind his hospitality, his joviality, and
picture him as our modern Arcadian
free-Hver, it is impossible to think OF
him as other than :, good fellow. His
quick wit was exhibited Oh many occa-
sions, but notably in connection with a
bargain for coat and trousers of buck
skin attractively displayed over the
wearer's fine physique. We were quite
willing to wait and receive the purchase
from the hands of the man through his
window or door, but he too well under
stood the importance of working the
iron hot. A moments thought, series
of rapid contortions, and the tight-ft-
ting garments were drawn off and
thrown at our feet. Before payment
could be made the ludicrous had i'm
pressed itself upon the crowd, and hard
ly had the money been clapped into his
mouth than, adroitly snatching blank
ct from a bystander and wrapping him.
self therein, the youth scampered off,
hands over ears, towards the village A
long, lean man, garrulous in witticisms,
followed him with banter gobbled out
of turkey throat. But the annoyance
was soon left behind in company with a
puff of dust which followed the red
bandana and flying locks over the edge
of the gulch.
On another occasion one of those
small skin-lined saddles, dangling a
multiplicity of straps, awakened an in
terest. .'Quanto:" chow much). six
fingers are instinctively presented sky
ward, with an undecided seventh threat
ening the perpendicular. Obedient to
instructions, we lose all interest imme-
diately and assume the expression OF
total Indifference. Exit.
Tableaux II perhaps comes off next
day. We notice our friend Lucero has
frequent occasion to drag his saddle
back and forth before our door At
length we mutually discover each other
We smile, and raise three fingers, which,
observing the change of countenance
this awakens, is finished off as some
thing between military gesture and a
sidewalk salutation; and the saddle
moves on. Before both have gone far
there is q sudden decision. One man
stops short, and returns a five-finger sal
utation, very much as an auctioneer ele-
Yates his hammer for last call. The
proposition for compromise is submitted
to greater experience within, but meets
with no favor.
He'll stick you yet on your own bar
gain, and don't you forget it, says our
interpreter.
Juan Lucero is softened into reproach
by the indecision; but theWestern man S
promptinos are obeyed to the full ex-
tent of Indifference. very hasty exit
pressing engagement.)
Still the saddle was seen often. We
had already taken seats on the morning
of departure, with the impediments adj
justed to a fit; but the man and the
saddle were on hand. At the right mo-
ment he emerged from the shadow of an
adobe wall. Three fingers this time,
and an evident swallowing of emotions
as an accompaniment to the mods af-
firmative. The whole bespoke the,o
stinate wrestling of flesh and spirit over
the decision. For want of room we tied
it to the axle, where, for seventy-five
miles it required constant watching, as
it had way of inching on to the wheels,
and marvelously defying all sorts Of
knots.
Some time after, when sauntering
through the plaza of Santa Fe, the
words of the Western man were brought
to mind by seeing a quantity of pack
saddles tone dollar apiece.-H r. Poore
in the Continent.