Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-06-09
PUEBLO PAaTNfEs.
Strange People--Their Peculiar
Dances and Festivities,

Judge l.. Bradford Prince, who is
an enthusiast In Pueblo archaeology,
mas Just returned from visit to the
Tunkue pueblo, for:y-five miles south
or here. about which interesting rumors
have been afoat, but little has been
known Until now. 1t proves to be one
o. the Pueblos that went down In the
revolution of 1880, and was destroyed
hy fire. 1t was very large. The walls
are yet distinctly traceable, and the
lines Of the houses well marked. The
square of houses surrounding the e5-
tufa, or underground council chamber,
Is about 200 feet on each side. The
estufa itself is about fifty feet in diam
eter. Judge Prince found many pieces
of pottery of unusual brilliancy of
colors, and also stone axes and ham,
mers. Scorched corn in pots was found
which went through the confagrat!on
over two hundred years ago, and is in
a remarkable state of preservation.
Judge Prince has been several years
engaged in unearthing the mysteries of
the ancient Pueblos, and his home here
abornds in rare relics. Among the
latter is the only set of Pueblo idols
known. 1t is composed of strange Hg
ures and curioasly-marked stones,
eighteen pieces in all. Though the
Pueblos claim to have embraced the
Catholic faith, it is known that they
sail reverence idols-the sun, moon
and morning stars. Although they
present their children to the priest for
baptism on the eighth day after birth,
they go through an ancient survivor
Shipping ceremony with them four or
five days before tnat. They are very
secretive people, and it is impossible to
discover the nature of this ceremony.
The twelve thousand members, and
they are known to have remained at
about that number since 1900, care
fully guard this ceremonial secret.
There are now nineteen towns left,
only one having been abandoned
within the last eighty-five years, and
that the Pecos Pueblo. the extensive
ruins of which are still visible OIL the
Atchlson, Topela Il Santa Fe road
near Glorietta. This once populous
city was reduced TO ele ven inhabitants in
1S40, and, taking with them the sacred
fires, which had been kept burning
for untold ages, they journeyed to
JemeZ, where ene of them was chosen
Governor last year. In the year 1540
Coronado found the Pecos Pueblo
populous and dourlshing, but Its iI-
habltants wasted away by war and
disease IN three hundred years until
only eleven remained.
hn 60
democracy. On each New Year eve
they elect officers in every town, the
principal officers being the Governor,
the War Captain and the Fiscal or
Treasurer. The latter also has charge
OF the celebrations, and heralds proc
lamations and the news-a walking
bulletin-board by virtue of his lungs.
Every town has patron saint, and
that saints day is the great event of
the year. They rival each other in the
extent and loyelineSs of the demon
s.Fatiofs and in hospitality, for every
E,usc is open and the stranger is
welcome 10 the best 1t affords.
The ceremonial dances at these cell
ebrations partake of the nature of the
drama. Every one Of them tells some
story of ancient days. 1t is the tribal
mythology preserved in song and dance.
The Matachinos is danced by twelve
men and one woman, the belle of the
Pueblo. 1t represents the trials of
Montezuma in reaching perfection and
the possession of ideal female lowell
ness. The woman they call the Malin-
che. Montezuma is represented by
some active and ambitious young man,
who, in the course Of the dance, meets
with all the annoyance and difficulties
that can be beaped upon him by his
tormentors. He is attached first by
one and then another, and overcomes
them in turn, winding up with ter
rifle combat with an Indian decked out
in imitation of bull. Then he claims
the maiden and is happy, even his late
eomhatants Joining in the praise of
the victor.
Mrs. Prince saw the Zariche, a dra-
matte dance. typical Of the sufferings
and final victory of HoO-pah-wah, the
Aztec Achilles. She describes it as
follows:
1.-TWO Indians are chosen snd dressed
Just alike-or, more correctly speak
ing, are painted just alike, as that is
their adOrnment for the ceremony.
You can get only faint understand
ing of the effect by description of the
painting. Fine white lines radiate
from the mouth and eyes. One-half
of the body from the crgwn OF the head
TO the head to the sole Of tine foot, Is
painted a bright yellow and the other
half green. A buckskin pad on the end
of stick is dipped in white paint and
the figure patted with it, making what
looks like little snowballs, eight " ten
inches apart, all Gvar the body. The
effect is vsrY ead and striking. A Gu
liOas neeKlade, of what are said to be
bones of extinct animals, is worn about
are feathers and bows and arrows.
There are two dressed in this way and
exactly alike. To each is faste-,ed a
rope made of the s..4apis OF hides.
painted g,ssn and yellow, and the op-
poSite ends of the ropes are fastened to
pasts. When all is ready, weird Indian
music strikes up; and the dance begins
in mournful measure, increasing in
fervor as it goes on. The eont9Ttions
become alarming, but aS nearly alike as
the movements Of double clog dancers
On tho minstrel stage. The ropes are
rnally broken, and when that happens
there is great rejoicing, The assemb-
led people shout aad laugh and sing as
though all worldly Ills were banished
and paradise at hand"
The dual representation In this dance
is mystery which the Pueblos refuse
to reveal The festivals generally occur
during the winter months. the summer
being given to agriculture by the men,
while the women make p0tterY of odd
design ard pratty color.
A SINGULAR CASE.