The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-04-30
CALLING ON THE MoQUIs.
Pueblo Indians Resent the Presence
of WhiteH.

Pueblo Indians Resent the Presence
| of Whites.
A Washington correspondent Of The
NeU York Times writes: Col. james
Stevenson, of the bureau of ethnology,
has returned to Washington after So
journ of about six months among the
Indians of Arizona, bringing a carload
of rare and valuable curios, illustrative
of the social habits, worship, and in
dustrcs of the various tribes of which
little is known. He was accompanied
in his travels by Mrs. Stevenson, and
the pair had an adventure among the
Pueblo Indians quite unusual in its
character. Having explored some
ncwly-discovered cave villages in the
vicinity of Flagstaff, Arizona, they gath
cred small party and struck across
the desert to the northeast for the
Moqui towns, several days journey dis
tant. They arrived safely, and en-
camped at the foot of high mesa, up
on the top of which stands Oreibe. the
largest. westernmost, and least known
of all the Pueblo towns. Its pop,,-
lation is about $50 souls aud the VIII
lagc is compact mass of rubblc struc-
lures. standing one upon another, like
pile OF empty boxes. and with US lit
tie regard TO any general plan of archi-
lecture. The people. like all village
Indians, are comparatively harmless.
but, unlike the majority, have
strong aversion to contact with the
whites.
Some of the leading men Of the town
came down to the camp, and, after con-
siderable palaver. gave consent that
their village might be visited, but stip-
ulatcd that no effort should b" made to
convert their people to Christianity.
The next day Mr.. and Mrs. Stevenson.
accompanied by their four friendly
Moquis from other villages and as many
Navajocs. rode to the top of the mesa,
dismounted. walked into the village
plaza, and thence climbed Il ladder to
the top of the cociquc's, or high priests.
house. When the presence Of the
strangers became known there were
signs of excitement throughout the viii
lage. The ncighboring hollsctops and
the plaza We're throngcd by excited
barbarians, who chattcd in loud voices
and made threatening gestures. One
burly savage upon II roof Just above the
cociquc's d:nglcd Il lariat srggcstiyely
nooscd ut thecntl, and loudly demanded
that the whites be taken to the estl,fa,
or underground chapel Of the village,
and there summarily dealt with. One
or two demonstrativc individuals VOL
untrered to be the first to apply the
knife. The friendly Moquis stood their
ground only few minutes. and then
disappeared, but the Navajocs. who are
made of lirmer material, remained.
Col. Stevenson says that while the
situation was highly interesting. it was
probably less alarming than it would
have been to people unacquaintcd will,
the natural timi.litv of the Pueblos.
Mrs. Stevenson. who was sojourning
with her husband among many wild
tribes, and knows the Indian character
well. created an opportune diversion by
shaking her fist in the face of huncll-
backed savage, whose vindictive elo-
qucnce seemed to exert most mischc-
vOus influence over his fellows. address,
ing to him at the same time several
brief but vigorous remarks in English
and Spanish, which he was, of course,
quite unable to understand. BEFORE
the man had recovered his srlfposses-
sion the strangers had backed down
tho ladder. aud then slowly made their
way, with the whole howling pack.
men and women. children and dogs, 1T
their heels, to their ponies. mounted.
and rode down to camp. They found
the cook. who was the only white per-
son in the party. considerably alarmed
He said the camp was surrounded soon
after their departure by many friendly
Indians, but when the Moqui deserteIss
reached them and told the story of the
proceedings on the mesa all mounted
their ponies and made haste to get
away. The cook feared his companions
had been made Observation-Disclosures mur-
dered
The party remained in the ncighbor-
hood several days, visiting the other
Moqui villages, to all of which thcv
We're welcomed. and many times they
were visited slrrcptitiously at night by
people from Oreibe, who brought Gu
rios for sale. which they dared not Of
fer openly. In this way IL fair collcc.
ton was made. Meanwhile the story
Of the episode in Orcibc was carried to
kcam 5 canyon. twenty-five miles dis.
tant, the proprietor of which. an Eng
lish ranchman, has lived in the vicinity
many years, and by fair dealing, pluck,
and firmneSs has gained All extraodina-
ry influence with both Navajoes, and
MOquis. Mr.. kcan ut once organized
Il party of three or four white men, tho
only ones living within sixty miles, and
Il dozen or twenty Navajoes for res
cue.
The Oreibrs received information of
his approach, and the head men Of their
Navajocs after them, and the two, in
cluding the hunchbacked chief, were
brought in. keam tied their elbows
and took them to his ranch for dist
plinc, the Stevcnsons accompanying
him. The prisoners were defiant ut
first, but after two or three days con-
fincmcnt under the guardianship ip of Ma
vajo jailerS, who beat drums, danced,
and indulged in other terrifying per-
formanccs. they began to rclcnt and
confessed that they had acted badly.
''N0w you are beginning to talk rca-
son. said kcam, land we will see about
letting you 90 soon.''
But" snarlcd the hunchback, 1--WE
must go now.'
Hold on, my friend. You are too
fast. You will not be so abrupt, per-
haps. tomorrow"
After another nights confinement the
prisoners begged their liberty and were
joined in their prayers by a dcputation
from tho village: They promised good
behavior in the future and extended an
apparently cordial invitation to the Ste
vensOns to return.
"Now," said Keam. "you are taking
like men. We will keep you another
night"
The next day they were set at liberty,
and went away crcstfallen and repent
ant.
At canvass held in u mining district, H.
bernlan cried out yociferously: II nominate
i