The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
TEN DA rs DO THEY LABOR.
The BS5 Others Are Holidays for the Easy.
Going Acomn Indiana.

from the San francisco Chronicle.
The strangest people living in the United
States are the Acoma Indians OF the Pueblo
tribe. and they can with great certainty claim
the credit OF having the strangest harvest cero-
monies of any people on earth. Little is really
known OF these Indians. AS their strange homo
In New Mexico is far out of the beaten paths Of
travel. and they seldom venture far from 1t,
Acoma is located about forty miles from Fort
Wingate. and the region around it is wild and
almost barren. The town itself is on top of q
cliff, or rather an enormous boulder, that rises
400 feet above the surrounding plain. The top
Of this is almost inaccessible. and the Indians
have only two trails. both being exceedingly
difficult and dangerous. The Government has
sent several expeditions to Acoma. but little
has been found out about the people, who look
with disfavor on any attempts to learn any
thing about certain customs. They are q
harmless and simple tribe. but are much
attached to the traditions of the past. In
fact. they have absolutely refused TO give
up their old customs in spite of all persuasion.
1t has never been possible to make the Acomans
braced the faith and are always glad to see a
visiting priest. A church was built for them
over 100 years ago, and is still standing. They
most OF them have been baptized. but they will
GEO eer e,peGrIy h IRON IN hearing ear nGi ma : to som secret
halls of the town. No white man has ever seen
one or these ceremonies, and the chances are
none ever will.
Another strange thing is that the people have
no respect for the church as an editice. When
1t is not being used for service they see no
reason why it cannot be used for something
else. and generally have, it full of sheep. But
they never modest the altar nor disturb any of
the articles used in the service. On one occa-
sion a visiting priest forgot his ,prayerbook. and
before he got to Acoma again. and there had
ueen no other priest to visit the place in the
prayerOOOk. nut. 10 his snrDrisR fnunf N in tho
place where he left it when he last used it.
ihe greater portion Of the year Aeoma is like
several days say that some OF the people will
not leave their homes for weeks at a time. Tho
arrival OF visitors is all that will disturb them,
and when a party approaches the place they
crowd around the top OF the cllf crying and
long winters the people live indoors. telling
they. arouse enough to allow the men to 60 TO
the fields some distance away and put in seed.
until the crop is pretty well along and needs
watchinG., To watch the crop is an honor, but
when the harvest time comes. Iii: a dangerous
JOB, t no sl,, as The watcher has TO live alone
in the little city on the cliff.
The Acomans do not harvest their crop as 1t
ripsnsi put allow it to remain in the fields until
make one job OF it all. About tho middle of
September generally the chief gives the word
and idleness the greatest activity prevails and
excitement Ills the people. They act as
part of their ceremony is 10 give thanks to the
rain god. This they do by beating different in
times all the people march around the outside
edge Of the cliff and then oegin the long walk
mean time It is doubtful il many OF the peopls
sleep a wink. All night long they keep up their
day start for the fields as soon as the sun rises.
OF Tie crop Is carried the entirA distance Tho
men do the digging OF potatoes and cutting
their fT heads dsI to the sh hillt .ns G Gpeat bic sf SaSdi IL on on
chili peppers and grain of different kinds are
across the sandy fields and up the
IN the harvest house. While the crop is being
the very oldest women in the Town are
most unwillingly, because they have no right to
any Of the harvest; They complain ana refuse,
ana are then besten until they get to work.
They do not do AS much as the younger people,
but it all counts.
ries are filled with food for the long winter there
great rejoicing. And what a lot of good
and big piles of potatoes. Tons of chill
md dried tomatoes; Peaches and grapes are
4 Inherent ierbs that give tho meat such a tine
inynr' When al IS ready the crop is di;
women, VINO have no right to any OF il.
The head OF each family gets IL share, according
u, 10 those ne or shS has TO support. The younger
Titles; When NIL ~ equally divided each takes
TO his home and stores. it where it can be
easily reached. The morning after the crop is
the queerest ceremony of the har-
vest takes place. The old women who were
le;t, out Of the division had, shut themselves
IN their houses all night, hut before doing /.
50 had carefully left large jars q few feet
from their doors. At daybreak the daughters.
neutrality-suspicious. and Observation-Disclosures
come to Tho door and call. All carry large Jars
HE'D with the choicest of the harvest, and offer
hem to the old women. With much ceremony
ne ora women accept and point TO the lar in
'front.' ot their doors, into which the offerings arc
dumped, and the Jars are carried inside by all
If the daughters taking II hand. The meaning
n this part OF the harvest ceremonies has never
been explained TO u white man.