Wichita eagle., 1888-11-08
A MISSION FIESTA.
SOLEMN MERRY MAKING OF THE
MEXlCANS AND INDIANS.

Glinpses of Life in Southern California.
The Chapel of Pala-Amcng the Basket
Makers Mortars for Grinding Grain.
Scenes at the Races.
The chapel of PaIa is long, barren, seat
less hall, with rude tiled floor, rooted with
red tiles taken from Temecula. Rude paint
| ings decorate the walls, and the altar orna-
rnents, though meager, are Of tho poorest
| description. Tourists and curiosity hunters
have depleted the place. It was gala time
at Pala, and all the inhabitants from far and
near had assembled to celebrate the fiesta of
IT, patron saint, San Luis Rey. A stones
THROW from the chapel or mission was the
raInada, about which the festivities centered.
This was a brush structure, made Of inter-
woven green willow branches, about fifty
feet square, fat upon the top, with the open
ings. which extended completely through
dividing tie raInada into three parts. In
the center was the square dancing platform,
with benches on each side, while the sides of
the ranlada proper were divided into booths
appropriated by dealers Of various kinds.
1t is at night that the fiesta really begins.
Vehicles Of all descriptions have been arriv-
ing all the afternoon, unloading entire fam
lilies, the women wrapped in the inevitable
black shawl, the men in sonbreroS and long
frock coats, riders on horseback, some on
mules, until by O'Clock the ranlada wes
thronged with an eager, hard drinking, but
good humored, crowd A few lamps and
candles were distributed about, and the ra-
mazda became picturesque even in it's soniber
ness The band two guitars and violin,
struck up ''La Paloma," and soon after was
almost drowned by the shutting feet of the
dancers upon the sanded floor. Among the
lockers on were descendants Of the old mis-
sion Indians, the Cahuilos, Diegenos, and
Others.
The fiesta has commenced and all is sup
posed to be as merry as the TRADITIONAL mar
rage bell, yet to the strangers there it is a
very solemn affair. The segregation between
the sexes seems to be complete. The young
men In their long coats, when not taking
hand at the various games of chance or
drinking, sit silently by upon bench srnok-
ing cigarettes, while the senoritas dispose
themselves upon an equally hard bench upon
the opposite side OF the dancing platform.
There is no conversation, no small talk, fir
tation or coquetry beyond tho speaking black
eyes. When the violin and guitars strike
up the opening dance the young men SOL
ennly walk over to the young ladies and lead
them out, after the dance as solennly es-
corting them back again. The young men
had their wine and their cigarettes, and oc-
casionally lost dollar at the games but the
senoritas bought their own somaliS and
other refreshments. As the night wore on
wine flowed moro freely, betting became
more vigorous, and laughing and shouting
were occasionally heard, and but once any
indication of serious by play.
AT Pauma, ten miles up the Pala valley,
another mission was visited. Here were
larger ramadas and many Indian houses with
u tulle or willow annex. The old chief, who
was barefooted and hooded with stovepipe
hat several decades old, greeted us cordially.
displayed his dancing dress Of eagle feathers,
and stepped a measure for our edifcation.
His house was of adobe, with ramada Of
tulle or extraordinarily summer kitchen,
where tho family lounged and lived.
4 The interior OF the house, though foorless,
was clean, and the family, large one, sat
around cycling Us with curiosity. In every
house were seen baskets, nortars and mat
ates, the only evidence of art among these
tiles lying about the fields, several weighing
80 pounds in front Of the old mission, while
others, probably broken Intentionally, pro-
tTuded from the ground within the great
adobe wall in the garden, with its old olives
and vines planted by the padres. The NOR
tars range from small ones weighing five
pounds to those weighing go pounds. They
were the primitive vessels for grinding corn.
/, Tod 80
know, and when asked where they got them
they reply that they found them. which is
probably true, as tie writer has unearthed
numbers on the slopes CT the Temecala range
and elsewhere. They were made by the an
cestors OF the present Indians, worn out after
years OF grinding and patient labor. Some
are Of heavier granite rock, while others
are OF volcanic origin, many beng OF regu-
lar shape, showing that the makers had some
idea OF beauty of form.
While the stone implements Of these people
are interesting the baskets show them to have
possessed much artistic feeling. In many Of
the adobes or butts of the Cahu,la- Fauna or
PachGnga Indians old women were seen weav-
ing baskets. They sat upon the ground, tailor
fashion, with bundles OF material By their
sides, working az the basket which would
take them two weeks TO finish and which ~
could bug. The baskets are 70 these people
what tIDware is to the whites One Is q
trunk a.ld holds the wardrobe OF the sQuawx
Another and smaller one serves a a tobacco
pouch IN cid sluaw is sitting grain with
plaque OF basketware. Another is cooking
food in a large basket in which the water has
been heated By the Introduction Of hot ssoneA
Grapes are heaped in the largest, while very
small specimens ara used II variety Of
ways
In Pagnla baskets could be found In every
house, though no1e OF the oE1crs seemed par
ticUlariy deslrous OF parting with them In
one broken down adobe visited we're three |
old squsws and an old man In response 20 |
a request for basksts the Latter sang soas, |
IL which he told the story OF tie basket max |
ers Of old Throwing ooas over his arm be !
assumed a position similar 20 negro when |
about 10 pat tlGzae, and cHa,Denced 70 ssnS
weird coulmiEgliEg Of Sounds N OH Cslszis1lss |
every line ending IN "A-a-ah-zc, followed /
BY an aspgHting sound almost asthmAssc In |
tbs toe Cd sq1avs crounaing naor u tie .
rarnads joined st the first notes the Aexi- /
Cans az She large ra1aada caIoe dasai1g Up /
upon their ponies, and soo1 the Cd chsa vas /
tic center OF picsErssque group Ias St
tentso0 AID APPLAUSE sesE,ed 10 excite I'm. /
as he redolhss6 kss efforts. waving bis aru-s
wildly, pozs1g 20 the fozr po1sss q tie /
co--p=zss S-d stamping Upon the ground Ihc |
lnxssa Sczir>n<a N t. IA $4,000