Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-08-21

from their village anu golheN III 'He
chant as they marched forth TO greet |
their neichbors and extend TO them the i
hospitality Of their village. Entering
the gates, the Pecos marched TO the To-
TEN poles, where In honor OF their hosts |
they bowed three times to the east and
circled three times in sacred dance.
The women had prepared feast for
the guests, which was partaken OF by
the braves of both tribes, the women
standing aloof in silence.
Let the chase now begin" said the
cacique of the JemeZ after the feast
was ended.
The cacique of the Pecos bowed his
willingness, and the braves Of each
tribe formed in line in the center of the
plaza, each armed with boomerang.
Each line was headed by their village
caciuue, who wore q headdress Of ca
gles' feathers, with the skin OF tiger
hanging down his back, as mark OF
distinction. Next in order was the sha-
man of each tribe, wearing headdress
of woodpeckers' feathers. They were
followed by six musicians, three from
each village Each carried half OF
gourd suspended from the neck, with
the convex side upward. The gourds
were partly filled with pebbles. Each
musician carried in his right hand a
notched stick, which he drew across the
edge of the gourd as he ratified the peb-
bles, accompanying the movement with
| hn nrpnaadpd Tho
dance moved slowly with serpentine
step, each line now facing the other and
then countermarching and growing
faster as the music became more ami
mated For a moment they stood In
one position, raising the feet alternate
ly, accentuating their steps with the
music, and then in a dog trot or with
hippety-hop step they danced around
the inner side of the plaza and finally
formed in front of the estufa, where
the sacred fire was burning. grunt
of delight escaped from the Pecos vii
layers which the JemeZ did not seem to
interpret. The omens of the shaman
were favorable, and the Jemez could
not believe that their hospitality would
be betrayed
At the signal Of the war captain the
dance ceased. The sacred cigarette was
lighted by each brave in order to blind
the rabbit, and after the smoke, during
which not a word was spoken, the
braves now marched to the course
south of the village. Each line was
separated by the width of half mile
and closed In upon each other, encom'
passing the game. The result Of this
chase was sent back to the village by
the squaws, who were carried along
for that purpose, with Instructions te
prepare another feast for the guests
1t was decided by the war captains tt
make similar closing lines from soutf
to north, driving the game toward thu
village. In courtesy the PecOs wert
given the post nearer the Jemez VII
lage. This movement was artfully sug
gested by the Pecos villagers in orde
to more successfully carry out thei
treacherous designs. Gayly chanting
the song Of the Rabbit Hunt" the un
suspecting Jemez Indians took thei
pOSl VII thC ldI thCk oAoC VA sAA
mesa. AS they turned to make tn
closing in movement they saw to thei
amazement the Pecos Indians runnin
toward their village, shouting the wa
cry.
"Treacheryw exclaimed the Jeme
cacique "The red man has betraye
bis brother! Our squaws will be take
away and our papooses killed. w
must now fight! No more talkp'
The echoes Of the song Of the RAT
bit Hunt had died away and the wa
whoop resounded over the mesa as tn
fleet footed Jemez ran toward their vi
lage, now being despoiled by the
neighbors. Entering the gates, the
soon found their weapons and ran I
the defense of the temple. The pries
had been killed, and the Pecos ha
snatched the burning fagots from IL
altar stone, and, surrounded by guar
It they were fighting their way to II
lie gates. The young warriors and Il
squaws who had been left In the v
t. lage were bravely fighting to retain Il
i sacred fire, and many had been sla
g. before the arrival Of the braves. IT
lie battle was soon decided, and nearly {
m Of the braves-perhaps 500-fell
ut front of the estufa. The sacred fan
y had been taken by the enemy, and Il
)" luck Of battle was against them.
. The few remaining warriors, wom'
ly and children were now prisoners, an
their hands bound with leather thonl
le they were taken to Pecos.
or 1.-THE Great Spirit is angry with
-. people since we have been SO fool
no as to trust the red brother" said t
cacique to the remnant of his villas
rs "Henceforth we are to be the slaves
- the Pecos Our tribe will be no mol
bo Our people will die, but the Pecos W
on also die at the hands Of the viii
ho brother. shall say no more"
no -
he For several years the Pecos prosp'
ed. Crops were bountiful, the cha
"a was always successful, the streal
he yielded an abundance of fish and raj
i'd were plentiful. The sacred fire burn
H. brightly in their estufa-the cause
ey their blessings and good luck" Ora
he ually their captive slaves, the remnar
he of their nel. hboring village, pass