The evening world., 1890-01-23
PUEBLO INDIAN VILLAGE.
History Of a Very Old and Primitive
New Mexican Town.
A Strange Record, Extending Buck
over Three Hundred Years.

Don Fernando de Taos has n history
full of stirring events extending back for
80 years, says n writer in the Philadel-
phin Times.
In Taos are to be fond, side 10y side.
the civilization. somewhat DEGRADED, of
the ancient Aztec and that OF tho modern
Spanish Americnn, with all its Incidence,
super,tIt!on and contcnted poverty.
Tie town is almost Inaccessible, ms the
mountains, which must bo crossed 10
reach 1t from amy side. are high. heavily
timborcd, and for the greater part of the
year snow-covered.
This petulinr isolation has preserved to
tho town all its primitive features. and
makes IL nj object of curiosity not only
To the tourist hut 10 the student of Ind an
Ii story aud character.
Taos was first discovered and conquered
by tho Spaniards during their scar, h ior
the seven cities Of CIboin IN about 1880.
Tho Indians of Tnos. as we'll rs the in.
hnbltantS of the other towns of New Mex.
leo, were called by tue Spaninrds Pueulos.
from the fact that they lived in fixed
hlLitations. Tho towns also are called
PueulOs.
After tho conquest the people of Taos
became Christians. ~ least nOminnlly.
and were baptized. or u century they
bore without effort at revolt the servitudC
that had been imposed upon them.
In 1850 they rose aud drove out the
Srauinrds aud they themselves rr!npscd
INTO barhnrism. The Spnninrds. how.
ever, |icCunQuered them n few years later.
The Pueblo Of Taos. or tho Indian uart
of the community, Is about two miles
from the Mexican part. The Pueblo IL
smaller than others in New Mexico. but
similar TO the rest in IFS main /, Aturcs.
Tho Pueblo is altogether different from
the town.
In the town the buildings are one story
in height IN tho Pueblo they are five
stories high. In the town the houses
have no floors, in the Pueblo the houses
are tloored. The town is not clean; tho
Pueblo Is clean, with plenty of light and
mir.
The inhabitants differ as much "a do
AMI bears on his face and IN his bearing
he signs of superstition add ignorance.
Tho Pueblo Indian is well d~res-ed-iu his
own costume, Of course-aud looks
serious, hut as wise and dignificd M
though the whole earth WAS his. The
Mexican has q courteous bearing TO
strangers, but does not invite you into
his house.
The Pueblo Indian when you come
about insists on giving YOU Of his fruit or
other food. Tho Indians raiss large crops
of corn, pumpkins, DC. lhelr govern
ment is n KIND Of republic, n Governor
and Lieutenant. Governor being elected
annu lily. They have n Catholic church,
the walls of which are covered with paint-
ings. the work of the priests who lnbored
among them 30 years ago
The l uehlo Is the quIetest place in the
world. The children as they play on the
roofs or along the hanks OF the creek
make no noise. The men and women go
about their work noiselessly. Even the
burIos do not bray. Ali that is to be
heard Is the noise uIade by the women in
grinding corn.
Their fields ore well kept aud yield
bountifnlly. Long ears of corn. every
grain of which IN red AZ n ruby, are COM
mon. They use the simple IMPLEMENTS o..
agriculture which their fathers used and
gr nd the corn as 1t was done IN the old
Scripture DAYS.
In the Autumn the Indians celebrate
with religious dances and athletic games
the gathering in Of the harvest. During
harvest can he seen Mt the Pueblo a scene
of peaceful industry and content which
the world cannot surpass. Ii is there n
Happy Valley. They labor and SOW their
seed and gather in the harvest that nature
gives them.
They labor, but their labor does not ex-
haust. They are contented and happy
aud live sunless lives without the craving
for wealth or the desire tor fame. They
live and love md find in their simple
lives ample satisfaction for all their wants.
physical and spiritual.