Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-08-21
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IN the Jemez mountains. near Albu- |
querQue. y NJ, stand the ruins OF ]
an estufa, the only remaining |
Landmark" Of the JcmcZ Indian
village. the last chapter in the history
OF an extinct tribe. The site where the
village stood is a forest. and the huge
stone walls rising grimly amid TINS
scene OF desolation remind the visitor
of feudal castles in desert IL depicted
IN the romances Of the dark ages. herc
was enacted about a generation before
civilization began 10 spread westward
a scene more realistic than perhaps any
depicted in romance with superstition
as the underlying cause.
IL is perhaps known 10 even the SUI
perficial reader that the Pueblo Indians
are sun worshipers; they believe that
their god. Moctezuma, dwolls IN the
sun, and 10 the rising sun their prayers
are repeated at mornings, and the sa-
cred fire is kept perpeualy burning in
the estufa. or church. Should this IRE
become extinct disaster Will surely fol-
Iow-perhaps extinction Of their tribe
or village.
A few miles from the JemoZ village
ras the village Of the recOS. members
Of the same family Of Indians. also
tracing their descent from the ToltCcS.
but living under a separate govern
ment. The Pecos and the JemeZ were
friendly neighborS. and during a sea-
son of great drought the Jemez had
given from their bountiful crops many
measures of corn. fruit and vegetables
10 the Pecos. whose crops had failed.
The Pecos envied their more favored
neighbors and attributed their calam-
ity 10 the evil spirit, who was domi-
mated by the good spirit of the Jemez.
THE evil spirit came out of Diablo
canyon last night and threw his spell
over the priest of our sacred fire, and
now 1t is no more! Our tribe is
doomedr' said Mancos, the shaman of
the Pecos, addressing the chief cacique
OF the tribe.
"For three centuries the sacred fire
has burned, most noble caciQue, until
the storm spirit came, and the priest
whose duty it is to keep it alive under
the penalty of death fell asleep, and
the evil one stole the sacred blaze
added the shaman in tones of grief.
Lead the traitor beyond the walls of
the village and let the squaws kill him
He is unworthy of death at the hands
of the braves" ordered the cacique.
The shaman bowed, again bowed tc
the east and gave orders to the wal
captain to be executed instantly.
While the drums were beating for thu
execution of the sentinel priest the ca
Clique summoned council of thu
braves In the estufa. With terro
stricken countenances, they met in tn
sacred hall, in which women are no
permitted to enter under penalty o
death. Here are held their most sacre
dances and other rites and also til
councils of war. Stone benches hew
from the wall extended round tn
council chamber, where the braves sa
as stolid and as solemn as the gloom
walls The throne of the caciqu
faced to the east, and in front was
totem pole, on which was engraved tn
history of the tribe. The cacique nov
arose and addressed the braves.
''The evil spirit has stolen away on
sacred fire." said he, land our race
doomed. The temple must again b
lighted by fire from heaven, but til
Great Father is angry with his peopl
and 1t may not be so. The True Spir
loves our neighbors, and we must pc