Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-03-28
LlFE AMONG THE puEelos.
An Intcrestine People whose Civilization
Began Long Years Ago.


culture, living in villages of solid edi-
fees, three stories high and fort-like in
construction. That they we're able TO
hold their own during almost four CEN
turies is the more surprising, since
they had constantly as neighbors no
madic tribes of warriors and robbers,
against whose attacks they were
obliged to defend themselves with
their primitive weapons.
For two years they were able TO
withstand the Spanish invaders in
their "casas grandes.r IL had been re.
ported to the Spanish commanders that
several hundred miles TO the north lay
a great empire named Cibola, which
had seven large cities. In these there
were loIg streets on which only gold
and silversmiths resided. Imposing
palaces lowered in the suburbs with
doors and columns of pure turquoise.
The windows were made of precious
stones, brilliantly polished. At the
sumptuous feasts OF the prince Of the
land enchanting slaves served the most
delicate dainties on golden dishes
There were mountains of opal rising
above valleys revelling in jewels, with
crystal streams whose bottom consisted
of pure silver sand.
The disappointment of the Spaniards
was great A number OF large Indian
villages were found whose inhabitants
subsisted upon the fruits Of primitive
agriculture. The frugality and thrift
of the Pueblos excited the interest of
thevoluptuous Spaniards The peculiar
architecture of The villages and houses
also drew their admiration. Taken as
a whole, the circle of houses resembled
the cells of wasp's nest, of which the
upper stories were reached on n crude
ladder. Entrance could be gained only
through small opening in the roof, not
even the sides facing the streets con.
tanning doors. A few heavily grated
windows served as portfolios for theiI
arrows. These peculiar constructions
of baked clay are still fashionable in
such old towns as Zuni, Taos and
others.
Situated, as the Moqui villages and
Acoma were, on top of an inaccessible
rock, the Spaniards despaired of con
quering them. The supposed Cibols
not panning out according TO expecta
tion, they did not seek reinforcement
and left the Pueblos in peace. Only
toward the end of the sixteenth cen.
tury the Pueblos had to submit tc
Spanish rule, under which they re.
manned until ls4s. when the territory
embracing New Mexico and Arizona
was ceded TO the United States.
In some respects the Spanish su.
premacy proved beneficial to the In.
dians. They virtually maintained their
Independence. Many innovations in
their life and customs can be traced
from this period. The only domestic
creatures in their villages were large
turkeys, whose feathers served as head
ornaments for the warriors; but horses,
cows, sheep, goats, dogs and last, but
not least, the indispensable burros
were added to their domestic stock.
The most important change in their
communistic mode of living dates from
the annexation of New Mexico to the
United States and the introduction of
railroads. Their unfriendly neighbors,
the Apaches, Comanches, Kiowas and
Navajos. were restricted to their own
reservations.
Feeling safe under the powerful pro-
lection of the government, these peace
able people have begun to relinquish
their old mode of communistic exist
ence in the strange dwellings Until
recently there was promiscuous living
together of large families in the nu-
merous apartments of a single house to
which access could only be obtained
through the small aperture in the roof
More modern cottages are being built
for single families farming is carried
on ON large scale, and in some parts
grape and fruit culture is attempted
with good results
All the villages are characterized by
a certain industrial monopoly. In one
of them, for instance, the pottery for
all the Pueblos is manufactured; in
others, like the Moqui villages, all the
people are employed in the making of
finely woven goats hair blankets. in
which occupation many are great ex-
perts. Although a large number are
engaged in the sale of blankets and In
dian goods in the southwestern part of
the Union, in the gold digg .ngs OF Cali
fornia, in Mormon settlements, in the
small railroad stations of Arizona, the
average Pueblo Indian prefers a settled
life. He is domestic in his habits and
loves his family, his cattle, his farm
and his neighbors as dearly as does his
pale-faced brother. And has he not
good cause to rejoice and be contented
with his lot? Has he not faithful and
charming wife? There are some pretty
girls Of perfect contour among the Pu-
eblo Indians, especially in the Tigua
villages. Are not his gleeful children,
who are enjoying jolly romp On yonder
sand hill, obedient and reverential in
his presence? The impudent spirit of
Young America has not yet exerted its
baleful influence here.
How scrupulously clean are the
households. The good housewives of
the Netherlands do not excel the
Pueblo squaws in cleanliness. Floors.
carefully swept; all along the wall of
the spacious room, seats and couches
covered with fine variegated rugs; the
walls tastefully decorated with pic
lures and mirrors, and large cupboards
hlled with luxurious fruits, meats, pas
try and jellies. Thousands of white
bread winners In the large cities would
envy these Indians II they could behold
their afiiuence and contented state.
Nor do they obtain all this without ia
tiguing toll. The land is barren and dry,
which compels them to induce irriga-
tion through long canals from far-away
streams.
The Pueblo pottery Of to-day differs
but little from that of the sixteenth
century. In the pottery villages the
work is done mostly by men, who sit
on the broad, shaded platform and
shape their immense vessels in imita-
tion OF human beings and every imag-
Unable animal shape. The grotesquely
shaped mouth is generally intended for