Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-11-17
PEACEABLE PUEBL0S.
our OLDEST INHABITANTS
AND THEIR TOWNS.
The Occupants OF the Adobe Cities which
Dats Back Far beyond the Earliest
Glimpsss of History on our Continent
The Town OF Taos.

northeast from Taos, and about Tor
ty miles from the line OF the Beaver
and Rio Grande railroad he Fu-
eblos are peaceable tribe. writes a
CORRESPONDENT OF the Philadelphia
Times, deyoting their time to the
care OF their reservation aud dwell
ing together like one large family.
owning everything in commons and
having saved the moneys derived
from the sale Of tteir annual crops,
are all comfortably we'll on.
The earliest explorers Of Northern
New Mexico, away back Ia the first
decades Of the sixteenth century,
told OF the existence OF the adobe
buildings. which stand to-day 10
state " excellent preservation
Sheltered on the north and east by
the Sangre de CrIsto range Of the
Rockies and command lag "a charming
view OF the extremely fertile but
little titled Taos valley. the picture
i indeed beautiful ono when seen
from the summit OF either pueblo.
as these buildings arc called 10
the right runs prehistoric irrlga.
ton ditch with III inuumerable
arms or canals, TO the loft on this
mesa are the ruins ~ prehistoric
/ city 81 some nine o. lcu Thousand
| inhabitants, Judging from She miles
81 streets which are sLtli plainly iH-
| dictated. while over TOD nties away
| 10 the southwest towers the ;able.
I like peak ot the A5equGu mOlulAlu,
wonderfully clear and distinct
There are uu entrances % thr
main buitdiu. 81 either parbII On
/ the ground leyel. this balug a war
measure 81 deienss lhc center IN
each baiiliug y uOl.au anl forms j
4 vast stnrcho4as tur grain gAsrAa4
and protected from foes by tho OIier
she'll 81 habitatson ma 1al5 means
~ access Is by SERIES 81 rude .aldrrs
\ which the auiattlAtel regard atlh
/ some timidtty auA tackle 1igh Ia
dicruus aukvarInes.. bat Whs@h lus
\ Pueblo Indian Of both sexes AMI ain
ages mounts With ease and graca,
\ The Interior ~ their homes are "a.
| trcmely clean ana tho walls arc made
/ white a. snow Dt tbs application az
terra blanca Oh white earth.
mountain 81 which u near al hand
Furniture there II none Their brds
are made % blankets On this r.sau
swept Aoor while III sons rooms
seats arc made " adobe against the
walls in long benches DoorWays
are Of various BE- ghts connecting
all the apartments forming means
Of communication Ihruus bout tho
entire building
The men are, for tho most part.
undarslkcd. the result doubtless u
long years Ot inter marriage. aGd
yet. In some eases. the features arc
remarkably strong and dine The
women are extremely short With a
marked tendency In nearly every
case to en- bonpoiat
Tho form Of government Il untaus
and singutnylj FREQ irsm political
corruption Tho rivalry between
the Two pusblos in mattcrs ~ physt.
cal strength and Hpatucss o. foot is
very sharp, and ID the 3lth 81 sep.
tember each yOaf, that baiay tho
feast q their patronaI satnt. Gorout
mo. a relay race Is run ~ the BUCKS
Of each building over q regularly do.
fined course. and tho winning pueblo
has tho privilege Of ei"ctiug the GOV.
ernor for the ensuing year The
preparations for this event are most
elaborate. and az tho day approaches
tho excitemet and interest or mile.
around becomes intense. Thousands
81 MeXicans flock 10 the scene tus
thus far but few white people have
seen H. Tho buildings aro dcckad
with evergreens, ana the braves.
clad only In a brrech cIout thefr
bodies and faces smcarod with paints
Of all hues, strain ovory muscle Tor
the honor 81 reaching tho goal first.
Merry making OF extraordinary fash.
ion follows the decision and many
days pass before tho quiet humdrun
Of everyday II 2 Is resumed.
The executive chambers or astufns
are underground, AMI consist simply
Of large circular chambers whose
whitehead walls bear rudoly draw n
pictures Of thor doitios. for tho
Pueblo - still part sun-worsbtps
and part Christian. Tho duties Of
the governor NJ present consist
largely In psrfeetIng tho sanitary
arrangements 81 the tribe. For
many years smallpox has brokon
out ut intervals and ragged with fear-
! ful mortality. but now, under tho
advice OF a nearby American phy.
stefan. vaccination has been adopted
as preventive, and for the pasi
! two years the scourge has been hold
In subsection. AZ lenst 50 per con,
Of the tribe. however, are pocf.
I marked
r Their traditions ana NEUROLOGICAL
are well preserved, and In some oasoa
romantic and poetioal. In fact tbq
Pueblo Indian is, taken as whole,
r the most peaceabo and prosperous
the most accessible and communi.
, cative. and by far the most thrift,
! OF our governments wards.
Ills rrIdo Touched.
, Same old story, suppose" sale
the woman Of the house. "You'v,
2 been thrown out Of work by N,
, strlke?n 'h'