The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-11-16
THE PUEBLOS
Solemn Dances by Night-Pictures'
que Scenes in the Quaint VII
lagos in New Msxico-A
Town Centuries Old.

Albuquerque, N. NJ, correspondents OF
The New York Evening Post.
When the Pueblo Indians have gather
ed home their annual haryests of mes
quite beans and wheat, have laid by a
store of jerked beef, and have provided
grease roots from the arid wastes for
winters fuel, they have a week Of athletic
sports by day and solemn dances by
night. These customs have come down
from prehistoric times, before Coronado
and his conquistadores came marching
this way in 1912. Every autumn pale
faced people drive out from Santa Fe or
Albuquerque in New Mexico to watch
these picturesque aboriginal >functions In
the neighboring pueblos.
Several miles west from Albuquerque
is the pueblo, Isleta. For several rea-
sons. 1t Is one Of the most interesting
Of the twenty-five pueblos in New Mexico
II IL the most prosperous Indian conn
munity In the West; 1t 10 the cleanest ana
most moral of any pueblo; 1t Is probably
the second oldest continuously occupied
In the Union, and many OF the squat
stone and adobe mud homes have been
occupied with never a days intermission
for over 800 years. Thousands OF travel
ers on the trans-continental trains to ana
from California have looked upon Isleta.
close beside the railroad tracks, ana nave
admired the Enthusiastically garbed Indian
men and women in bright-colored f"brics,
and the trim gardens and the rich green
alfalfa fields.
II was on a Saturday during the sea-
son of athletic spor.3 that we visited
Isleta. All through the forenoon two
professions. one representing each SIDE.
marched through the streets to the beat
ing of drums and a weird sort OF chant.
Each side carried its own banner-a small
but gaudy piece of red cloth, covered with
various geometricai designs and zigzag
streaks of white lightning, all done in
white paint
Early in the Afternoon the red fthletes
retired to their respective quarters to be
groomed for the races. Our party guess
ed that something interesting must be
going on In a house that was surrounded
by a great crowd of Indian men and
boys. So we edged our way through
them and looked in at the open door
Stripped to their Ioin cloths, the racers
were In the hands of trainers. who rub
bed and spatted and pounded them from
neck to toe, and kneeded their muscles
| and twisted their skins. and worked theii
arms and legs as thoroughly and az
vigorously as professional masseurs could
have done. After about two hours Of
this, the band Of married men "a dozer
strong, headed by their banner and drum
and followed by q retinue Of friends
small boys. and dogs. marched to thu
estufa. This building, which In ever,
pueblo holds a most important place II
it's social life and its history. In 1sleta II
an isolated circular abode house Mt the
edge of the village, about fifteen fee
high, without doors or windows En-
L. the nv ladders. III
olden times the estufa had many uses
most important of which were those o.
councial chamber and temple. 1t is still
the scene. IN every village Of the mos
secret rites of the Indian religion. still
| secretly held and practiced, not Withstand
| ing their outward adherence 70 Chris
| tianity.