The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-01
CHRISTMAS AT A PUEBLO.
MERRFMAKING or THE INDIANS OF
AN ANCIENT TOWN.

Isletn, N. NJ, Have Performed for Gen.
erntions-Defeat of n Reforming Priest
A Week of FeRstinE-Fun for the Young.
IsLErA, N. NJ. Dec. 27,-The Joys Of the
Christmas season In the United States are hy
no means confined to the communities OF pale
faces. Tho red people down In the ancient
pueblos of New Mexico and Arizona are hav-
ing a pretty large share in the good things OF
the holidays.
This pueblo OF Tsleta was here n century OF
least before Francisco Yasquez lie Ooronado's
troops marched on their search for the famed
seven cities Of Clbola In 1910. 1t is plctur-
esque in its mud and stone wlndowless houses,
Duilt In terraces and on top Of one another.
In the crooked passaReways that answer for
streets are scores o~f.sduat houses, like mud
dry goods boxes. that have been occupied for
300 years. The mud church at the head OF q
street OF adobe houses was built by the Span
ish priests more than 200 yearG'ago. and the
school. where a Yankee girl teaches the pueb-
10 children under the authority Ut the Indian
Bureau. was the palace OF the great chief
Wantalillo n dozen generations ago.
OF course. there IL q wide difference be-
tween the Christmas Of the white people and
that Of the pueblo. The pueblo Indians have
never 30 much rs heard OF Kris KrinRle and
his span oiHrelndeers. there Is no shopping to
be done by the squnws for their Christmas. no
Christmas trees. and not q chimney In the
whole pueblo for any one to descend. In
Isleta the duties OF the sexes are sharply de-
fined, forthere are no new women in the pueblo
and customs centuries old govern the conduct
and labor Of every inhabitant. But every one
in these pueblos has q season of comparative
leisure when Christmas comes in sight. As
for the black-eyed. solemn- faced youths. they
are overwhelmed with ease. In these days
the young man may hunt all the time. and the
fat antelope or mountain sheep or catamount
with which he comes trudging back to the
pueblo attests his as n sportsman.
At night the boys may have q high old time
oy gathering on the mesas and joining in tune.
full choruses in the bright moonlight for hours
at a time. Some critical p~alefaces may say
there is nothing but a succession Of cultural
yelrs and rasping grunts in these juvenile
concerts, but the accustomed ear knows them
to be musical stories. some dating further
back than the days OF Montezuma, OF a boy
chief who slew beasts as big as hills. and To-
Eendary accounts Of ancient heroes who could
make the moon shake with their voices.
The pueblo Indians anticipate the gastron-
omy of Christmas week with most zeal.
Usually they are Indifferent to what they eat
and drink, but at Christmas time it is another
thing. ror weeks and months the red people
get ready for the Christmas week. There is
care tnaL Un0 store Oh gram ana vegetables IL
ample; that the boys know where the ~juiclest
antelope range. and how many wild pigeons
and 1ucks may be counted on. The children
are frequently shampooed and the little stone
houses are swept and made ready for q week
Of fun. The fat sheep are driven from the
range and kept ready for the roasting. while
jerked beef dries on the line day by day in the
warm sunshine. AS the great day approaches
the red women and girls get out their ances-
trail Shawls and serapes OF gaudy colors and
polish their wealth Of agate and shell necklaces
and their clumsy metal bracelets and ankiets.
On Christmas eve tiny bontlres Of mesquite
brush apd dry grasses and hemlock from the
Down %STn' she c rpe ,d" seree as 'h Eve a91sn up Is s ont
Of doors and people go about town singly
and in groups. greeting one another The
For several centuries tile dance has begun at
the dying out Of the bonfires and has continued
suddenly ceases and the. Jewellers bow their
beads nv While the m = "a sh, is celebrated; Each
y men t and T %omen. the GF e fnied appelt'i most e@oS yiVRe
cio9s and athletic OF the young Indians; to
RBe en I % the Be S SSossn, 4 lew js a vs aIssin ssd fSs
Spanish priest. whose good deeds here are
without u Der. issued an order that the
romping and ~revelry Of dancers. 1t would be
hard for readers who have never been in one
vi %ol insss Rne01 Drie st raised raised. We" For days g sTst the ' ms
dians treated the order with outward con.
tempt; but at the same time kept up a deal OF
selves, It last they burst forth and . deleGa-
ton OF the old men OF the tribe marched over
We wan. to know who WINS the church."
said the leader. a wrinkled man close to q CEN
fathers dwelt here for ages, and ages and we
have kept their customs always. You came
t ass1 fs HPls ss did. Thie % Gana have sa SG fSsfr ensto as
and, it is our way. and on Christmas eve we
shall have more dancing"
In vain the priest argued and threatened to
Say ne mass on Christmas morning.
"Ah. we'll" .retorted the aged Indian in his
well go without mass. It is not always nee.
essary; But give, up the dance. no. no. That's
"Remember purgatory If you do So" an
swered the good priest. |
Yes. purRatory all right but Wen dance on I
Christmas eye. 1t was the fathers way" re-
piled the old man.
That was the end to the objection, to the
empty frolic. The Indians look upon It as a pious
duty. They dance to their pagan deities on a
half dozen occasions in the year, and when
they conform to the religion Of the. mission
aries they do not see why the deity, OF the mis-
ceremonies as the moon gods. the sun father
and tbs rain spirit. So they gather in the old
An old man with long white hair rises, and
IN the native tongue orders a space made In
1ne Orchestra and Singers start up' There Is
stretched over a half barrel. A s9ua~ beats on
ments made OF mesndite wood. similar to vio-
Inns. When a space Ten feet wide has been
cleared. at a signal the dancers come troop
ing in. The men are bare to the waist. Their
chests and backs are painted in q half dozen
startling colors; huge bracelets OF silver and
brass encircle. their upper arms; their heavy
shocks OF nair hang 70 the shoulders. and
embroidered kits Of red: yellowish ~legginRs
are fastened ABOUT their calves. and beaded
moccasins. generally heirlooms. are on their
feet. behind each kilt bangles the skin Of =
wildcat or q fox. some OF these decorations
have been used In these dances for fully a
century. a few for longer periods. Each male
dancer holds O saered gourd filled with peb-
bles' like a rattle, In one hand. and q bunch Of
long eagle feathers in the other.
The dresses of the women. dancers are more
gaudy and generous. Each wears q bright
red or blue ,overgown. reaching from her
to her knees. 1t Is the product OF
weeks OF labor and planning. with all It's varie-
gated embroidery; From the knees to the
ankles are white buckskin affairs like boot
legs. and OH the feet are red moccaslns. en-
with serpents' heads. A bunch of
dyed IN red and blue. Is in one hand.
and a SNOWY silk handkerchief is in the other.
Heavy earrings. a score OF bracelets and tur-
quoise and shell necklaces complete the toilet.
The men face the women, II thump on the
drum Is heard and the dancing BEGINS. The