Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-10
INDIANS OLE ANo1ENT BLOOD.
Interesting Models of the Towns and
Houses of the Pueblos and Moquis-
Their PecuIiarities

ANOAANS OE ANOIENI DAOOD.
Interesting Models of the Towns and
Houses of the PuebIos and Moquis-
Their PeculiaritIes.
Since the Bureau of Ethnology, under
the direction of Major Powell, began its
investigations into the characteristics
and mode Of life of the aboriginal tribes
of North America, says a Washington
letter, some very interesting data con-
corning the Indians have been collected
and published in the annual reports of
the bureau, which are the most eagerly
sought after and highly priced of the gov
ernmental publications. The facts which
have been collected concerning the pueblo
and cliff-dwelling Indians of the South
west have been Of particular value to the
student of antiquity and the ethnolOgist.
Col. Stephenson, who has for several
years devoted his time to a systematic re-
search into the mode of construction of
the pueblos of New Mexico and Arizona,
started for the scene of his labOrs again
last night. He will continue the work of
last summer and Will make a general eth
biological collection illustrative of the
customs and condition of the arts among
the present pueblo Indians. One of the
more interesting features will be a collee-
ton of pottery, of which these people
make a great variety, skilltully decorated
and OF elaborate and tasteful designs.
Much OF this material will be sent by the
bureau to the New Orleans Exposition.
The National Musuem, in which the
offices and workshops of the bureau are
situated, is being rapidly fitted up for the
purpose for which it was designed, but
there are still odd corners fenced off from
the public gaze. In one of these divisions
a number of workmeu are engaged under
the supervision of Mr.. Victor Mindeletf
constructing a series of 'mOdels of seven
pueblos of the province of Tusayan.
These towns are Te-Wa, Se-chOm-a-vi,
Wol-pi, Ma-shOng-ni-vi, She-pan-el-e-vi,
Shi-mo-pa-vi, and O-rai-be, which were
visited by the Spaniards about the year
1910, and are still inhabited by descend
ants of the Indians whom Coronado then
saw. These models are beng made from
the most accurate measurements and
plans, supplemented by sketches and
photographs of every detail which
were secured during the field season of
1888. The models are all being made to
uniform scale sufficiently large to show
distinctly all the minor features of the
architecture and construction, that have
been followed from time immemorial by
| those interested and secluded groups of
Z
| character of the masonry in color and
texture. Many experiments were tried
/ before substance could be found that
| would properly represent the originals in
this respect, and at last a species of pa
pier mache, the basis of which is the
macerated greenbacks from the Treasury
Department, was hit upon. The seven
towns which it is the purpose of Mr..
MendeIeH to portray are built upon
the mesa or table lands of the noun
| tains of Arizona, all upon the same plan.
Walls of stone cemented with mud sup
port beams upon which bOughs and dried
grass are placed and covered with a
cement formed with mud. The houses
! are generally rectangular in shape, and
| are built to height of four or five stories,
in the form of terraces, one upon the
| other. Originally there were no means OF
IngresS or egreSS upon the ground floor,
admission being gained through doors in
the second story, reached by ladder,
which was drawn up. in time Of danger.
/ Recently, however, since the advent of
the White man among them, some doors
have been cut in the lower stories. The
seven models described are nearly COM
pleted and will be sent to the New Orleans
Exposition.
A series of models of the ruins of the
cliff dwellings and the remnants of other
prehistoric architecture is being prepared
from the data secured during last seasons
| field operations. The cliff ruins referred
to occur principally in Canon di Chiefly,
| IN northeastern Arizona. These canOns
have been formed in a soft stratifed sand
stone, in the present instance to a depth
| of nearly 1000 feet. In the bottom of the
chasm a small stream known as the Rio
de Chiefly is found. Overlooking this
stream, and perched upon the hard
ened lodges that have been left by
| the erosion of the sandstone,
are seen numerous cliff ruins, varying
from a single room to clusters that would
I easily accommodate several families.
These are usually found grouped around
central ruin or small pueblo, which is
built upon the fiat of the canon bottom.
One of the models in course of prepara-
ton illustrates one of the ruins of this
latter class, with its cliff dwelling over
looking it. Wherever the action of the
weather has formed a recess or alcove in
| the vertical rock face these ancient build
erS have selected a site for the curious in
accessible structures. The architecture
of the prehistoric races, as well as the
pottery found among the relics, surpasses
in design and construction the work of
the modern Pueblo Indians.
All OF the models will be sent to New
Orleans, and when the Exposition closes
there they will be returned to the National
Museum. They will undoubtedly attract
a great deal of attention, as they are the
only ones OF the kind ever exhibited. One
model was made last year and is one of
the chief objects OF interest in the museum
to-day.
The seven towns mentioned above are
inhabited by the Moquis Indians. They
number about 1000 souls, and are depen-
dent upon agriculture and sheep raising
for their existence. The government
makes no provision for the Pueblo Indians
in the regular appropriation bills.