Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-14
A PECULIAR PEOPLE
AoMss OF ras pCEsGo INDIANS.
A Race shss Dates Beycud the Dcwnef Mis-
terri usdustsieas Men and Attractive, Mo.


Mexico. he found q succession OF those pc
culjarly.eonsfructed Indian villages which
are known TO-DAY ~ pueblos. As they ap
near At the present time. three hundred
wears after their first notice in the pages ol
hbtory. 80 they looked then. Built OF clay
that has been baked by the hot rays OF the
srp. and located upon the hanks or ri
least within short distance OF the Rio
Grande, the villages Of San Juan, Santa
Cruz. Santa Clara, Tass, and sauto Domin.
80, arc not only interesting In them
selves. hut the people who inhsbit them
have curious history, which will, when
understood, throw rceded light upon the
prehistoric races who built the castles and
the irrigatipg bitches and the temples
which stil, exist In ruins along the streams
Of the great Southwest. That there was al
some time q civilization Of an exceptionally
hieh order in the Southwest. long before
the discovery OF America, Is demonstrated
In many way. Arizona. for instance, is
replete with evidences OF there having been
at some long remote period people inbabit-
ing its limits who were not only verSed In the
sciences. but were so rich that the houses
they btilt were spacious and costly, and
their water bitches still remain to attest TO
their having understood the science OF
agriculture.
II Il not certainly known. but there Is
every reason 10 believe that Arizona cen.
turies ago was rich country; that II eu-
loved q prosperity greater than IL ever may
again, and that its people were a mighty
race, intelligent, capable and successful.
Near the town of Prescott. fast growing
into city. excavations made lately have
disclosed sets OF prehistoric implements Of
great nicely Of design, and in other sec
tons Of the Territory there have been I'M
earfhed ancient foundations OF large houses
and larger cities. And how much the old
race knew who the people were, bow they
were displaced and lost 10 sight, Frank
Gushing, living among The Iuni and study
irg their language and their history. may
be able in good time 20 tell us. He will do
SO II any man can. His work Il OF The
greatest importance. The mythology OF
the pueblos must be understood, or else
forever there will be blank regarding the
history Of the Southwest known to the
dynasty Of the Aztecs.
LARGE PUEBLO.
sanio Domingo is Que OF the largest and
one Of the most interesting OF The villages.
II Is built on the left bank OF the RIO
Grande river. Il few miles below where the
stream escapes from the canon Icy which 1t
enters New Mexico from Colorado, and Is
distant from the town Of Wallace, OF the
Atchison. Topeka aud Sanh Fe r0ai,
nearly two miles. The population Of the
place is ZOO. and the town lies in the cen-
tire OF one OF those fertile valleys which
may so often be found along the Rio
GIande. Before II. along The base 81 the
high bun upon which the town is built.
runs the river. curying gracefully along
its way, ana beyond whose shining waters
loom The Jamcz Mountains OF New Mexico.
Eastward from the Rio Grandc sand
wastes stretch far toward the eastern bills,
bare and dry, trecless. and only dotted
here and there with clumps OF cacti aud
punches OF coarse gra's.
Approaching the village, after toiling
over the rock-strewn sands lying between
IL and Wallace, il first appears 10 view
after one has gained The top of low hill.
Ii seems an ant-hil al first sight set upon a
mass Of sand. The houses are baked and
dried until they seem the same color OF the
land upon which they are built. Some are
piled together, one resting on the other.
much as a child would put his blocks to-
geiher, and the entire pueblo, with all its
thousand people, does not cover over an
acre Of ground. Looking ut IL Yesterday.
there were wreaths OF smoke arising from
the gaping chimneys and from the fires
that had been lighted IN the streets TO cook
the evening meals. Across the open ground.
lying at our feet. passed groups OF horsemcn
and men oil foot, wearing their bright red
and behind the western hills the
sun, low-sinking, gave wealth OF col0ring
TO the barren country that was indcscri IL
bly, beautiful and grand. Crossing the
level ourselves. and, Joining a party of In
dians who were shooting arrows at amark,
we entered the pueblo and walked about
its quiet streets. There was but little CO.
loring TO be seen, save that given by the
blankets which the people wore, but in the
distance the mountains were respondent
In their glory, and the Rio Grande. iull to
DyeTflowing, ran silently along Ms silvery
way. AS il was evening. the village was
ull OF people, some cooking their supper. |
ome busy with their household duties. !
L was a pastoral scene, interesting in it, |
simplicity, aud modern Rebtccas were ga /
hsred around the water-ditch and filling
heir earthen jars.
yIETUOUs. PASTORAL PEOPLE.
The people OF Santo Domingo are not /
riOus farmers. Owning a great number OF 4
cree, they raise large quantities Of wheat .
nd corn, and their flocks are numerous. /
Y ith the Nayaios and the Moqu they trade
or whatever trinkets they need and for the
blankets OF bright colors which they wear.
living together with the utmost freedom,
he Santo Domingans are vet noted for their /
iirtue. Marriage is encouraged. aud chill I
irtn are almost rs numerous is the flies of 4
but there Il hut little ilegit- |
macy, and the maidens, no matter (
bow scant their clothes NAV be or I
how free their actions. bear an unfair |
nished meme. The dress Of the people is !
plain but nseful. Leather skin breeches 1
md sandals are in vogue among the men. /
and The women wear short skirts and cot /
ton cloth bodlces, which do rot by any /
means conceal the rotundity OF the we'll /
developed figures. A governor. whose /
power i absolute, is elected by popular |
iote once q year, and the estuia, or coun- I
IL chamber. is the place in which the |
ruler and his advisers ait. With wants /
bat are as simple rs their customs, the |
jewellers al Santo Domingo are far from /
poor. They have money on interest at |
which has been paid them by |
he Government. and the Atchison and /
Santa Re road gave the tribe several thou |
sand dollars for the right of way through |
The territory. The farms. which may be |
seen reaching for miles up aud |
down the valley, are carefully worked, |
and the products are more than SUI
fcient TO not only to keep the peo-
pie supplied with food, but TO buy
the blankets and implements Of household
use which may be needed. Early converts
10 the Catholic religion. tie people are still
devoted worshippers al the church which
their Spanish teachers built, and In their
daily dealings with those hying near them |
they are upright and honest. The old
called the Cathedral, stands Just on
The outskirts Of the town, and is building Of |
no mean proportions. Made Of adobe, yell !
lowed by time until bearing q deeper color |
ing than even the decaying rafters, its bel |
Try still holds the bells which were cast in
spain, and the interior Is full OF sombre !
shadows which hide the bare floor Of the
adobe walls.
IL N hard 10 say what the actual charm
Ii Of an Indian pueblo, aud yet, after the |
many visits l have made, each successive |
one has s,ill lis old-time interest. IL may |
be that the pretty girls one sees, aud from |
whom be buys bits OF jewelry and rings,
are the attractions. Full OF fun, vet never |
boisteTous, they love TO talk, and the gift |
OF a ribbon Will give the donor smile OF |
unaffected gladness. Entering any OF |
The houses, the latch-string Of which /
II forever out, the dark.skiuned 4
senior and his family extend a hearty