The San Francisco call., 1896-10-04


strangest harvest ceremonies of any people
on earth. Little is really known of these
Indians, as their strange home in New
Mexico is far out of the beaten paths of
travel, and they seldom venture far from
it themselves.
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 cliff, or rather an enormous
bowlder, that rises 400 feet above the sur
rounding plain. The top of this is almost
inaccessible, and the Indians have only
two trails, both being exceedingly diff
cult 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 anything about certain
customs. They are 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 real good Christians, although
they have embraced the faith and are al
ways glad to see a visiting priest. A
church was built for them over hundred
years ago and is still standing. They are
perfectly willing to attend service, andl
most of them have been baptized, but
they will go directly from hearing mass to
some secret ceremony held in one of the
kivas or meeting-halls of the town. No.
white man has ever seen one of these
ceremonies, and the chances are none ever
will.
Another strange thing is that the
people have no respect for the church as
an edlfice. When it 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 visiting priest forgot his prayer
book and was unable to go back for it. 1t
was two years before he got to Acoma
again, and there had been no other priest
visit the place in the meantime. He had
forgotten all about his pr aver book, but,
to his surprise, found it in the identical
place where he had left it when he last
used it.
The greater portion of the year Acoma
is like dead city. Men who have re-
mained there several days say that some
OF the people will not leave their houses
for weeks at a time. The arrival of visitors
is all that will disturb them, and when a
party approaches the place they crowd
around the top of the cliff crying and ges-
ticulating until they find out whether the
strangers intend to stop or not.
During the long winters the people live
indoors. telling stories and playing differ
ent games. In spring they arouse enough
to allow the men to go to the fields some
distance away and put in seed. Then
there is another long interval of quiet un-
til the crop is pretty well along and needs
watching.
10 watch the crop Is an honor, but he
who volunteers to do so is exempt from
work when the harvest time comes. 1t is
a dangerous job, though, as the watcher
has to live alone near the fields, while the
rest of the tribe is safe in the little city on
the cliff.
The Acomans do not harvest their crop
as it ripens, but allow it to remain in the
fields until everything else is ready to
harvest and then make one job of it all.
About the middle of September. generally,
the chief gives the word and the town
wakes up. Where all was quiet and idle
ness the greatest activity prevails and ex-
citement fills the people.
They act as If they had not expected q
crop and the first part of their ceremony
is to give thanks to the rain god. This
they do by heating different instruments,
building fires and SINGING. Several times
all the people march around the outside
edge OF the cliff and then begin the long
walk to the fields, heavy with the harvest.
The harvest usually takes about ten
days, and in the meantime it is doubtful
ii many of the people sleep wink. ALI
night long they keep up their songs of
thanks to the rain god and the next day
start for the fields as soon as the sun rises.
Sos.-e of the fields are three miles away,
but all of the crop is carried the entire
distance. The men do the digging of
potatoes and cutting of the grain and the
women carry it on their heads to the hill
top. Great big bundles of chill peppers
and grain of different kinds are trans
ported across the sandy fields and up the
steep sides of the cliff, where it is de-
posted in the harvest-house.
While the crop is being gathered the
very Oldest women in the town are made
to work, and they go about their tasks
most unwillingly, because they have no
right 10 any of the harvest. They COM
plain aud refuse and are then beaten until
they get to work. They do not do as
much as the younger people, but it all
counts.
When at last the crop is all in and the
granaries are filed with food for the long
winter there is great rejoicing. And what
a lot of good things they do have! There
is wheat. corn and barley and big piles of
potatoes. Tons of chilli and dried toma-
toes. Peaches and grapes are there in
plenty and also piles OF onions and differ
ent herbs that give the meat such fine
flavor.
When all is ready the crop is divided.
Everybody is there except the old women,
who have no right to any of it. The head
of each family gets share according to
those he or she has to support. The
younger people and children are all given
certain quantities. When all is equally
divided each takes it to his home and
stores 1t where it can be easily reached
The morning after the crop is divided