Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-30
A CITY IN THE AIR.
A Wonderful Pueblo in Western New
Mexico.


Mexico.
Corre8pondsHce Of he Laurence journal.
The pueblo OF Acoma, situated 30 miles
west Of Albuquerque, Is one of the most
remarkable communities I'm New Mexico
or the United states. To reach it take the
Atlantic aud Pacific railway 10 Mccarthy
Station, and then transfer TO an Indian
pony and ride IS miles south and east.
When near your journeys end you de-
scend almost imperceptibly into the val
ley, q miles in width, in the middle Of
which stands butte, and on the top
OF this is Acoma. Eight hundred people
live there, and they and their ancestors
have gathered the sum OF their posses
sions for nearly three centuries. This
butte il one of many that are the rem
nants OF a mesa that has been worn away
by the erosion OF the ages, and survives
only in fiattOpped mountains here and
there. The valleys between are fertile,
and untold generations Of men nave seen
them covered with waving grain and
flocks of sheep.
Some time In the seventeenth century
the Laguno, or Valley Indians, made war
upon the Acomas for the possession Of the
country, and the latter being the weaker,
occupied the butte as a defensive posi-
ti0n, believed TO be impregnable. Their
Judgment has been abundantly Vindicated.
1t has proved Gibraltar of strength and
safety. The comparison is not inappro-
pirate, and in approaching 1t from the
north was struck with the resemblance
to the pictures | have seen Of that grim
fortress that frowns over the straits to
the Mediterranean. The height above the
valley is nearly 400 feet, aud the walls in
several places very perpendicular. There
are two means OF ascent, one by flight
OF steps cut into the face of the wall
and rising at an angle OF A. deg, and the
other by assure in the rocks leading up
into the heart Of the mountain. Both
ways have been trOdden by human feet
until the steps are followed out like shall
low trCughs. Either one is exceedingly
difficult, and neither is tolerably safe We
chose the one along the assure. One has
TO stride over the assure one foot on the
right hand side and the other on the left,
and at the same time press the hands
alternately against the rocks for support.
An Indian will throw live sheep around
his neck and go up quite rapidly without
touching either hand to the rocks; but |
am satisfied could never do 1t.
They told us of a pathetic incident that
occurred on the outer stairway several
generations ago. Several men started up,
each with a sheep on his back. When
nearly TO the top the sheep carried by the
foremost man became restless, and the
shepherd, in trying to hold it fast, lost his
footing, and in falling swept his compan-
ions over the precipice, and they all fell
en- the rock at the foot in Il liteless heap.
The Indians have carved a representation
Of the accident on a rock near where it
occurred, which scarcely serves to steady
the nerves of those who 90 by that route.
The top of the elevation is level, and
contains an area of go or 20 acres. At one
side stands the pueblo, blunt pyramid
of adobe and stone, honeyc0mbed with
rooms; at the other the church and grave
yard, and near the centre a pond of pure
water 30 feet in depth and several rods in
extent.
The priest was made acquainted with
the object CT our visit, and the ringing of
the church bell brought the inhabitants
OF the village around us. When they I'M
derstOod that the title TO their land was in
question, and we had come TO take testi-
| mOny, they showed great interest, and
discussed the various points involved with
remarkable intelligence, considering their
| limited opportunities for a knowledge OF
law. AS nightfall came on number Of
the men who had been at work in the val
| ley came up, bringing delicious peaches
and grapes, which we were glad to accept
in view of the meagre preparations for
supper.
( We slept in the church, wrapped up in
our Navajo blankets, and never felt more
+ secure or happier IN our lives. When the
/ gray dawn peeped through the little mica
window panes it revealed great roof
/ beams more than foot in diameter and 30
/ or 80 feet long, and through the open
/ tower "A bell that was cast In ITO. How
| these immense timbers and this bell were
I brought up to the top of tins cliff no one
4 living knows. The Indians shake their
heads aud the priest shakes his,
/ but no one ventures an opinion.
/ The timbers are there, however, as wit
nesses, and morning and night, as the sea
sons come aud go and generations pass
| away the bell speaks for itselfin the silvery
| tones that pleased It's founder in the tar of
/ Spain when King George was on the
they are made-were brought up from the
valley also, for the top Of the butte was a
/ bald rock in the beginning. And the earth
! for the graves came the same way, re-
/ curing forty years. the priest said, TO
complete the graveyard. IL Is the only
/ completed graveyard / have ever seen.
| The old priest seemed very happy in the
| charge az his flock and his flock seemed
| happy in the possession Of him.
When the time for our departure came
there was Misunderstanding and Misunderstanding
| and gracious blessing from the old man,
and n message 20 Father DeF0uri, and we
climbed down from the city in the air and
rode back in silence 10 the railroad.