Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-03-26
A DINNER IN NEW MEXICO
rWENTY-MINUTE GLIMPSE OF
WILD WESTERN LIFE.
What u Traveller Saw In . Hurried Mo.
mont After y Flrst-Class Railroad
Meal-Charastcristic Col
lection OF People.

One of the eating houses of the Atchi-
sou road is situated at Wallace, where
the train going south stops late in the
afternoon. says Harpec's Weekly. As
the cars draw up at the station the long
platform is thronged with the people
Of the country, of divers races. Rough
miners in flannel and heavy boots stand
watching the train, cowboys set of by |
sombreros and spurs swagger about the |
platform, and Spanish-Americans with |
swarthy faces and cleaning black eyes !
lounge against the ratings, looking i'm
passively on the scene. Most pictur-
esque of all there gathered are the de-
scendants of the tribes akin to the Toll |
tees and Aztecs. those migrating peo-
pie whose first home was in the north
west, before they went south to COLOMBO
the valleys of the Mexican plateau
the Pueblo Indians from Santo Domingo
and San Filipe. They are quantity
clad in their characteristic garb Of leg
gings and tunic, with blanket dress
for the women, and sometimes for the
men gaudy blanket wrapped about
on the station platform, and others,
pelated, are seen running to the cars.
bearing on their heads and backs the
things they have to trade. They ex-
hibit a great variety Of pottery, in the
shape of vessels of divers sizes, form.
and patterns of decoration, and many
earthen idols of infinite ugliness. They
offer for sale pieces of what the New
Mexican curiosity dealers call smoky
topaz, which in reality is obsidian or
volcanic glass, the material used by the
ancient Aztecs for cutting purposes,
from swords down to razors.
About the train is characteristic
collection of passengers. There are
tourists, European and American COM
mercial travellers, young men from the
east going to the southwest to try their
fortunes. and perhaps in the rear cars
some families Of emigrants. Repre-
senting the territory are merchants.
miners and cattle-men of American
and Spanish-American descent, while
opposite the blond Eastern lady may
sit dark-eyed, olive-tinted beauty
with the blood of Aragon of CASTLE in
her veins. and perhaps It darker and
not unbecoming tinge from Indian
ancestry. Travelling theatrical COM
panies, army officers and private SOL
diers on leave or on duty, and Indian
delegations going on or returning from
visit to the Great Father" at WASH
ington, are current types in a south
west passenger train. Almost without
exception the passengers are affable
and disposed to conversation. Stiffness
and reserve among fellow passengers
by stage OF by rail vanish west of the
hundredth meridian.
There is an excellent dinner plenti-
full and we'll served, at the pleasant and
roomy railroad restaurant, with so
much time allowed for the stay that the
traveller, after his ample and leisurely
meal, is able to walk about in this bar
barously brilliant scene, and make bar
> gains with the worldly-wise sons and
daughters OF the country for such of
> their wares as he fancies, The Pueblo
Indians hasten toward any one whose
eye they catch, hold up their goods,
and address him in a language mainly
aboriginal, with perhaps few Spanish
and American words intermingled; but
the only part of the discourse really
understood on either side is the extern
porized sign language. They ask several
: prices, expecting to be beaten down to
a fair rate, and they will let the possible
customer get away without consummat.
ing a trade. Demure, swarthy Pueblo
t children look upon the transactions Of
their elders with great interest, the
I larger girls helping their mothers by
I carrying the very young children in {
r couch made by singing shawl abou
!, their necks.
u The Indian pottery is the ware mos
: purchased by the passengers. 1t i
n quaint of pattern, and, in it's way
y much Of it is really beautiful. Tn
material of which it is made is white
IS or grayish-tinted clay, which the me-
r bring to the women, who are tn
q pottery makers. The Indians guar
/ jealousy the secret Of the places wher
&c are found the earth that makes tn
1t choicest kinds. The hunter. prospect
1t or, or railroad explorer coming sudden
10 ly upon these natives engaged in dig
v ging clay for the purpose is likely t
remember the terror and considerable
10 which they exhibit ms they run towar
II him, warning him away. The moult
a. ed pottery is buried in dry sheep
Us dung, which is fired, and thus it
s. baked. The material used in maxim
it the striped designs is decoction fro
MS a certain green root which the Indial
OF call rake. 1t is painted upon Il
or vessels, and in the baking it t,ir,
black. Tho best pottery is made
the Acoma. Zuni. and COchiti Indian
A gong clanks at the station, u
Ike those passengers who have not alreal
an returned to the cars discontinue thu
to promenade, or hastily conclude thu
ost bargains, The conductors cry rim
Iut out. Ian aboard" and tho laQgar