The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-24
PUEBLO INDIAN
CHRISTMAS
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HE Pueblo Indians Of New Mex.
leo celebrate Christmas In their
primitive way. and, although
they profess Christianity, they

leo celebrate Christmas In their
primitive way, and, although
they profess Christianity. they
also observe their religious as
well as their tribal customs,
says the New York Evening Post. On
Christmas eve the inhabitants Of each
village assemble at the estufa (place
Of Worship and elect officers for the
ensuing year. Men and boys over six.
teen years Of age. II the latter have
proved their worthiness in the chase,
select the candidates by q viva voce
vote. Women are not permitted In the
estufa. The officers elected are gov
ernor Of the village. war chief. police
Official and q council Of Eve members
IA q kind Of cabinet for the govern
or. The governor, BY the advice and
consent Of bis cabinet, sets the time
for the chase. when the entire village
turns out: also designates the time to
irrigate the little patches, the time to
70 to work and IL ex o6icio adminls-
traitor Of justice. The war chief d.
rects the pasturing Of stock and pre-
vents depredations upon private prop
erty. He is the chief Of police. con-
stable. Judge and jury combined. Only
serious cases Of crime are referred to
the governor and council
After the election Of officers q grand
dance takes place. The braves are
dressed In buckskin rantaloons. with
q white cotton shirt The headdress
10 Of the skin Of the deer or fox, the
tail Of the animal hanging down the
bSck On an ornament. Come Of the
heaidresses Of the officials are prettily
decorated with bright feathers and
sometimes eagle plumeA Their faces
are painted In yellow and white stripes.
relieved By red spots on the cheeka
They wear moccasins Of leather. The
braves form in q double line and march
around the village. preceded BY the
officers and the cacique. Or spiritual
head. Each brave carries In bis ieft
hand q gourd half hlled with pebbles
and nicked at the top. In bis right
hand IL a convex stick. which he saws
across the gourd and at the same time
gives the gourd shake or rattle. This
excruciating noise Ii partly drowned
by the general chant, In which all join.
The song IL q monotone. az II the
singer were telling q story Or reciting
historical sketches and suddenly Il
breaks out into O Wild and loud biare.
like the crash Of the elements Of dis
cord In the grand opera Of civilization.
The dance is hippetty hop. and the
movement is slow until one Of these
breaks 10 sounded. and then It is deliri-
ous, like q war dance. This exercise
continues all night, or as long az the
braves can stand up. There b con-
siderable quantity Of mesczl drunk at
these celebrations. and many OF the
braves fall BY the wayside. The pale
faces from the surrounding settlements
attend the fiesta, and some bring along
their whisky and gaming implementa
In the plaza. OF central square, there
are all kinds Of games and booths for
all kinds Of drinks. The Pueblo In
dian Il not used to our whisky. and q
very little SION induces him to gamble
away his money. clothes and wife.
Isleta, few miles from Abuquer.
que. N. n, is the largest Of the twenty
Pueblo villages in the Territory, and
the celebration here Ii always attended
by large crowd OF whites. 1t lasts two
or three days, during which there are
horse racing. cooking mains and other
sports The gaming tables are run night
and day. One Of the games 70 chusa,
similar to the American roulette. with
q hidden spring which the dealer
touches. Another sport is el gallo-the
burying Of q rooster In the sand, leav.
Ing his head above the surface. The
best riders In the village are selected
10 compete. They form In q front line
ut distance Of 100 yards, and charge
down upon the rooster. The rider. 90.
lng at full run. leans from his saddle
and grabs at the head Of the rooster.
II he catches the fowl. he II applauded
rs the victor. he then races for his
home, with all the other horsemen att
er him, with the intention Of depriv-
Ing him Of his trophy. II they take
the fowl from him before he reaches
home, be is shorn Of his laureis. and
In the scramble the unfortunate rooster
Is often torn to pieces. When rider
misses catching the ROSTERS head.
every one laughs. and II he falls from
his horse he Ia greeted with shouts
Of derision and epithets OF "sQuaw
man"
There are services In the church each
during the fiesta, with the
usual game and sports In the AFTER
noon and dancing at night The serv.
Ices are Roman Catholic-all Pueblos
being members Of that church. They,
however, observe some Of their own
rights In secret-the dance being part
Of their creed worship.
Christmas In Jerusa1euss
Christmas is held in greatest rever..
ence by the Christians Of the east, and
nowhere In its observance more solemn
and imposing than in Bethlehem. the
picturesque Old town where Christ was
born. On Christmas eve the devout Of
Jerusalem gather together and hock