Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-12-10
PUEBLO INDIAN
CHRISTMAS
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primitive way. aud. although
they profess Christianity. they
also observe their religious ms
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 aud boys over six
teen years OF age. II the latter have
proved their worthlness In the chase
select the candidates by viva yocc
vote. Women are not permitted I'm the
estufa. The officers elected are n gov.
orn0r OF the village. war chief, police
official and council Of i've members
as a kind Of cabinet Tor the govern.
or. The governor by the advice aud
consent Of his cabinet, sets the time
Tor the chase. when the entire village
turns out: also deslgnates the time 10
lrrigate the little patches. the time to
20 TO work aud Is ex ofiicio admins
traitor OF Justice. The war chief d.
reefs the pasturing OF stock aud pre-
vents Expectations upon private prop
crty. lie Is the chief OF police. con.
stable Judge and jury combined. Only
serious eases OF crime are referred 70
the governor and council.
After the election Of officers n grand
dance takes place. The braves are
dressed In buckskIn pantaloons. with
white cotton shirt. The headdrcss
Is OF the skin OF the deer or fox. the
tail OF the animal hanging down the
back as an ornament. Some OF the
hcaddrcsscs OF the officials are prcttlly
decorated with bright feathers and
sometimes eagle plumes. Their faces
are painted IN yellow and white stripes.
relieved 10y red spots on the checks.
They wear moccasns % leather. The
braves form In double line and march
around the village. preceded by the
officers and the cuciquc or spiritual
head. Each brave carries IN his left
hand n gourd half filled with pebbles
and nlckcd NJ the top. In his right
hand Is a convex stick. which he saws
across the gourd and nj the same time
gives the g0urd a shake or rattle. This
eXcruclatlng noise Is partly drowned
by the general chant. IN which all join
The song Is a monotone. as II the
singer were telling a story or rcclting
historical sketches. and suddenly lt
breaks out into a wild aud loud blare
like the crash OF the elements OF d..
cord In the grand opera OF civilization.
The dance Is a hlppetty hop and the
movement Is slow until one OF these
breaks is sounded. and then II Is dellrl
Gus. like a war dance This exercise
continues all night. or as long as the
braves can stand up. There Is con.
siderable quantity OF mescal drunk at
these celebrations, and many OF the
braves fall by the wnyslde The pale
faces from the surrounding settlements
attend the fiesta. and some bring along
their whisky and gaming implements.
In the plaza. or central square. there
are all kinds OF games and booths FOR
all kinds Of drinks. The Pueblo In
dian Is not used 10 our whisky. and a
very little soon induces him 90 gamble
away his money. clothes and wife.
Isleta, few miles from Albuquer.
que. n. NJ. Is the largest Of the twenty
Pueblo villages In the territory. and
the celebration here Is always attended
by large crowd OF whites. Il lasts two
or three days, during which there are
horse racing. cooking mains and other
cu.rfs q'ba 40. mimi 90 I.f.a . -. ,.,,,. uf~hs
and day. one OF the games Is chusa.
similar 10 the American roulette. with
a hidden spring which the dealer
touches. Another sport Is el gallO-the
burying Of rooster In the sand. leay-
ing his head above The sdrfhc4 The
best riders In the village arg selected
20 compete. They form In front line
at distance OF 100 yards. 9hd charge
down upon the rooster Tl1 rider. go
Ing at full run. leans frof bis saddle
and grabs az the head of'the rooster.
II he catches the fowl. he Is applauded !
as the victor lie then races for his
home. with all the other horsemen aft
or him. with the intention OF depriy-
ing him OF his trophy. II they take
the fowl from him before he reaches
home, be Is shorn OF his Igurels, and
I'm the scramble the unfortunate rooster
Is often torn TO pieces. When a rider
misses catching the ROSTERS head,
every one laughs, and II he falls from
his horse he Is greeted with shouts
OF derislon and eplthets OF "squaw
man."
There are services In the church each
morning. during the fiesta. with the !
usual game and sports In the after /
noon aud dancing at night The sery. /
ices are Roman Cathollc-all Pueblos I
being members OF that church. They. |
however. observe some OF their own J.
rights I'm secret-thc dance being part /
OF their creed worship.
Christmas In Jerusalem.