The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-11-16
5eVIa's Line EARLY RISERS
The famous little pills for constipation.
For Sale by { G. Fowler. and
F. Y. Hunter.

amcng the Indians. some OF whom
spoke a little English, did not bring niucn
satisfaction to our curiosity as TO VIVA
was going on in the estufa But we con
Guided from their hesitation and evasion.
and from the fact that the crowd tnat
had hitherto constantly followed the run
ners went away and did not even congre-
gate about the massive walls OF the es-
tufa. that some religious rites were De-
ing practiced down in that dark, WINDOW
less chamber.
The principal street had been swept
clean and smooth as a pebbly SOIL maoe
poss,ble. and here the crowd began 70
gather Every house in Isleta was emp-
tied of it's occupants, and men, women
children and babies filled the nat roofs
and made a solid wall along both sioes
of the street. And the view down tnal
street was something to warm the cookies
~ an artists heart 1t was a riot OF
color toned down by it's background OF
adobe walls until 1t softened and blended
into pleasing picture. utterly unlike
ANYTHING that could be seen elsewhere IN
all the length and breadth Of our country.
Every woman in Isleta wore her pest
that day. Their snow-white buckskin
moccasins and leggins were fastened with
silver dollars and half dollars; their arms
were covered with silver bracelets, ana
their necks with silver chains and oeaos'
Their dresses, knee-long, were OF orisnt
red calico, for the most part, ana nan
covered by tiny white aprons. Their neaos
and shoulders were wrapped IN shawis-
and such shawls! Some were nne black
Mexican mantillas, with deep silk fringes'
and some were Navajo blankets Of many
colors-all bright red-and some were the
cav plaids of frontier commerce. ana
some were Mexican shawls of green, red,
pink, blue or purple, covered with neaVy
embroidery In all the colors OF the ram
how. Most of the men wore spotlessly
white shirts or blouses, :ichly trimmed
| with embroidery, and across their should
| ers they carried Navajo blankets In bright
colors.
When the runners emerged from the
estufa their sturdy legs were covered
| from the knee down with zigzag patterns,
done in white paint, and across each
| bronze breast was painted a. big white
cross. Most Of them wore only loin cloths
| though a few wore also scant white
| trousers reaching to the knee Each one
had all the back part Of his long black
hair doubled and wrapped with strips OF
| red cloth. so that It hung below his neck
| in sort of long red and black club. This
is called a "chongo," and from 1t the
races take their name of chasing the
| chongo" The side locks were left hoat-
| ing over their shoulders. Hail OF eacn
| contesting party went to one goal ana
the rest to the other. They were all
| barefoot although the look of the course
was such, being in a pebbly soil. that q
Harvard man, a crack runner in his class
| who was one Of our party, WINGED every
| time a racer passed him. But the run
| ners seemed not to care.
| The Race.
The goals were about 200 yards apart:
/ From the western end benedict ana
| bachelor started together and went nylng
| down the track. AS they neared the oth-
| er end a married and young man there
stood ready for the start. The bacheior
| crossed the line two feet ahead OF the
| other, and on the very second the walt
| ing young man took up the race ana went
scurrying over the course. The instant
the married man touched the soai MS
waiting comrade darted past him down
| the track. And so they ran, back and
| forth. q waiting couple always ready to
| take up the race as two others crossed
| the goal. But the bachelors held their
lead and gained on 1t with almost every
| run.
Two markers kept track of the con-
| test. These were one benedict and one
| bachelor, who waving Navajo blankets
in their hands, stood on either side OF
the track and marked the point where the
contesting runners passed each otner'
| AS one side or the other dragged the line
| now this way and now that, the markers.
with alert eyes and nimble feet. leaped
| to the new point and with waving plan
| kets marked that until Ii changed again.
| Between their runs the Indians made no
| attempt to protect themselves, but with
| heaving chests and nude bodies STOOD
about or threw themselves on the ground
regardless of sun. wind or possible emil
"They make fairly good time said the
Harvard man, but they can't run any
more than they can read Greek. lie
| said their form" was very bad. indeed.
Most of them ran with their mouths open
and all ran hat-footed and with GER
| tain loose iointedness of the whole body
| that the Harvard runner said was
rank" Their arms tapped about loose
~. and they worked their should4rs and
backs as il they were moving wings
| Considering how badly they ran, the
Harvard man said it was really remark
| able how rapidly they covered the ground
| And they were a fine looking lot OF am
| letes. straight as arrows, well-musclHd'
with well set-up packs and heads tneiy
poised. their bodies shapely and the races
| k!ndly ard intelligent They were an in
Spring sight as they dashed down their
ptbbly track with chests heaving and
| faces glowing and long black hair flying,
| even IL they were bad form"