The indicator., 1897-06-26


p7 rooms. the smaller ~. The two com
munities number about 500 persons.
In each case the entire community
dwells in the pyramid. which Ia OF Pc
culiar construction. The walls OF these
community houses are made or mud
bricks dried in the sun. The front wall
Of the second story was built back from
the front of the first story. making
broad terrace. Tho succeeding stories
were constructed in similar manner,
and as all four sides of the building
were terraccd the structure became
pyramid The roofs were formed by
laying saplings across the walls and
covering them with mud. Until re-
Gently there were neither doors nor
windows in any OF the walls. and even
now there are very few. The people
climb up the outside on rude ladders.
which may be pulled up after them II
danger threatens. and they enter their
homes through holes in the roofs.
Many OF the darker rooms near the
center OF the pyramids are In decay,
md others are used for storing grain.
Some of the living rooms are white
washed. Fireplaces are made by con.
structing 4 mud hood across cornec
with mud fue running to the roof.
and pinyon and cedar brought from
the mountains are burned standing on
end in the corner. The broad terraces
are the playground OF the children. and
the lounging place of the "old folks"
When discovered by the Spanish con-
Querers, these people were not only
pcace ful farmers, but they wore cotton
clothing bought from their cousins in
the warmer lowlands farther south, as
well as the skins of wild animals. To-
day the men wear In summer cotton
leggings held up by string about the
Ions and print shirt falling loosely
outside the leggings. In cold weather
they add moccasins and blankets. Tho
women wear skirt of colored cotton.
and the waist is piece of cloth wound
around the body over the right Shout
der and under the left arm.
The occupants OF these pyramids are
Taos Indians, and they still preserve
many of their ancient pagan customs,
although they are nominally Christians
Of Roman Catholic faith. Every new
born babe is baptized by the Catholic
priest and christencd with Spanish
name. But the pagan shaman also
christens the babe. Facing the east
in the morning twilight. he awaits the
moment when the sun shall peep over
the Taos mountains. towering 1900
feet above the sea, when he bestows on
1, ;,,f, L., h ot
Is known among the intimates.
The courts have decided that the
pyramid dwelers are citizens OF the
United States under the treaty of Hi
dalga Guadalupe, by which the south
west was acquired from Mexico. but
they do not want to be citizens, and the
government has scarcely treated them
as such. The grant OF six square miles
Of the fertile, well watered valley OF
Taos made by the Spaniards more than
100 years ago has been confirmed by
Uncle Sam. and the people support
themselves by farming. They do much
Of their own blowing with sticks
dragged through the soft soil by ponies.
The married men OF the pyramid
community elect set of officers once
a year. There are governor, leu
tenant governor. an alcade, n war cap
tain and several assistants. The in
auguratlon takes place on New Years
day in the church. The old officers
gather on one side OF the room and the
new officers on the other. They march
in single file toward the altar, and. as
they meet. the retiring governor passes