The morning news., 1897-07-18

be in the chronological archives of the uni
versity 1t is thought probable that in
another year or so the paintings on the
rocky walls of the Cueva Pintada will be
so badly washed away as virtually to be
a thing of the past.
Five miles farther up the canyon and
about 1900 feet higher in altitude are the
ruins of the old pueblo of Potero de las
Nacas This was one of the old homes
of the Cochiti and was visited bv Prof.
Starr for the double purpose of securing
measurements of the four estufa or sa-
cred round houses. for reproduction and
Of making plaster casts of the
two life-size mountain lions that are cary
ed out of the solid rock in the center of
the ruins. The village once contained
probably 100 or 1900 souls. and has a
most commanding position on the brow of
the cliff. 1t probably represents the
Cochiti in the days of their greatest pros
perity.
The existence of the carved lions has
been known for some time, and yet, while
archaeologists and ethnologists have had
full knowledge of the extent to which they
have been mutilated, no attention has been
made before to preserve the relics, which
are said to be the finest aboriginal sculp-
lures in America, Making casts of these
lions was an arduous task for Prof. Starr.
The plaster and every drop of water
needed to mix it had to be carried up the
face of the cliff fully 1000 feet and trans
ported three or four miles along the crest.
The sculptures were found without diff
Guilty. owing to the circle of rough stones
with which they are surrounded. The in
cumbering debris was removed and casts
of the two lions were successfully made.
These famous relics were then sent to
Thornton, and. with the rest of the ma
terial acquired by the Investigators, will
be shipped to Chicago.
"PannIa will rorO10a bIv he edin
these lions, said Pr of. Starr. II was
myself. for the reason that / had no idea
time and vandalism had made such pro-
gress in destroying them. 1t would be a
pity, however to let such works of primi-
tive art pass away without making repro
ductions of them for our museums, To
say nothing about the main object of my
trip l regard the rescuing of the Hons Of
the Potero de las Vascas and the paint
ings of the Guerra Pintada from Oblivion
enough to pay for all the trouble and ex-
pense of the trip"
Prof. Starr deeply regrets that his en-
forced return necessitated his missing one
of the most interesting of the sacred rites
of the Pueblos. which will take place
next Wednesday. This is the religious
dance which will be performed in the in
closure in front of the Catholic church at
Cochiti The people present the curious
spectacle of two entirely different rell-
SlOuS lucas dl lne same Llmet
and apparently exerting equal influence,
at least demanding equal ceremony. The
Pueblos are to-day as much pagan as
they ever were, and yet for the last $50
years they have been, in matters of for
malism at least, devout Catholics.
They were converted to Catholicism by
the first Spaniards who invaded the coun.
try, and side by side In every inhabited
pueblo one will find the sacred round
house of the pagan and the Catholic
church of the Christian.
The sacred dance of the Cochid will be
performed July IA. The Indians will then
lay aside all evidence of the civilization
they have acquired, and will don their ac-
coutermentS of barbarism. OF course
these habilments of religion are too sa-
cred to be parted with, but 1t is the in
tention of Prof. Starr to reproduce them
exactly. Then these trappings VIII be
placed on the life model of the Indian boy
already referred to, which will grace a
corner In Walker museum This acquisi-
ton of the sacred dress and ornaments
is also important from the standpoint Of
ethne religions, since every shape and
color has religious symbolism. The Pueblos
are people devoted to agriculture. and
their religious rites center about rain and
the consequent fertility of the field
II regard my trip to New Mexico as a
triumph" said Prof. Starr, With a good
science as regards the Pueblos what has
never been accomplished in the case OF
other aboriginal tribes, and Walker mu-
SCUM Will have a collection that 1t may
well be proud of. 1t will take some time
to get the casts and drawings here, and
finish them in form suitable for exhibi-
tion, but no time will be lost In doing so.
l believe in these original investigations
by our great institutions of learning, and
so far as my department is cor cerned
shall advocate and execute them as far as
possible. Harvard university has been do
ing great work In Honduras. You know
the peabody museum secured the govern
mental right of investigation there for ten
years and has been at work necessarily.
Its first report, a voluminous one, has
recently been published That is the sort
of enterprise / want Walker museum here
to undertake. have made start In the
case of the Pueblos, and l must say 1t Is
an auspicious one"
"And the new discovery"
That will have to wait as regards an
nouncement till after my fall trip to New
! Mexico Then / hope to be able to make a
statement with such fullness of detail as
the subject warrants"
STORIES ON AN INTELLIGENT DOG.