Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-03-07
ACTQUIA DANCE.
The isIeta Pueblo Indians Celebrated
Sunday.

SUNDAY.
The Indian pueblo q. lsleta was the
scene of one of the gayest events of
the season, yesterday. Yet at the same
time the ceremonies connected with
the celebration were impressive and
solemn.
The acequia or rain dance Is "A most
sacred occasion to the Isleta Indians,
and to Caucasian II is a wonderful
sight.
The day was an ideal sunny day Of
the southwest and the skies oil Italy
were very pronounced. The pueblo is
a fair sight huge rectangular ter.
raced pile gleaminig white in the sun,
the peaks OF the numerous rough lad
ders showing in sharp relief
a Citizen reporter. always eager and
making special efforts to learn more
of the Indian and his customs. paid
tho Indian pueblo visit yesterday. He
was not unaccompanied In his object
of sightseeing, for many guests of the
Alvarado. desiring to get a glimpse
of an Indian dance, betook themselves
w lHlttd III Nilt w utu tue
flyer drew into the junction there were
many Indians offering their wares for
sale, but otherwise they did not appear
TO pay much attention to the presence
of their visitors. They seemed mildly
but not extensively engrossed with
their own affairs The daily presence
of that disturbing factor, the railroad.
does not affcct the profound inertia OF
his type.
Quietness relgned over the reserva.
ton: here and there an Indian, made
picturesque by his bright colored
the adobes. or sitting like a statue on
the top of his horne. But a reporter is
never quiet, nor can he stand the sus
pense of stiffness. With the scent OF
a bloodhound he went from the north
to the south, and east to the west in
the pueblo until he located spot of
activity. BY accident he peered into
corral and discovered some young
bucks loading chairs and tables into
wagon. There was no time lost in in
quiring the occasion of their labors
inquisitiveness and curiousness
prompted many inquiries which
brought about valuable information.
This was a great feast day. and this
was the place of Governor Juan Do
mingo Abeita, of the Pueblo of Isleta.
The elaborate feast in which nearly all
the Indians participated was the cele
bratinp Of tho prarriaga Of tho uox,
ernors daughter, Maria Teresa Abeita.
to Juan Bautista Sangre, worthy In
dian OF the Isleta. The wedding cere-
mony had commenced ~ the old
church, being performed 10y the priest,
and was resumed at the home of the
bride, continuing until the middle of
the afternoon. Nothing is too good for
reporter, so consequently entrance
was gained into the home ceremony
by means of nerve OF course the pro-
ceedings were mo sabe." but II was
most impressive. Before the priest
kneeled the bride and groom. while he
went through lingo that was musical
to the ears; all around the white, clean
walls, adorned with pictures of the
Christ, were seated old men and
women. Many of them were the oldest
inhabitants OF the pueblo, whose faces
were wrinkled, time-worn, element
SCARED, bearing the mute evidence to
the years of toll that has accompanied
their life. The most surprising thing
brought TO notice was the cleanHess
and neatness OF the house. In the cen
ter OF the room stood q large table
filed with pitchers of the native grape
wine, which was part of the cere-
mony. Just at point when the scene so
fascinating and dramatic had reached
its highest point, the reporter and his
friends were ordered to get out as they
were not wanted. But "A newspaper
man knows no defeat, 80 hunting up an
Indian who understood English, he was
told that the governors son. Pasqual |
Abeita, whom the reporter was on a
speaking acquaintance, was wanted. |
The governors son soon appeared. and |
as he had been educated at the Santa |
Fe Indian school, the situation was
soon explained and the inuuisitive |
man and his friends were |
allowed TO enter and witness the rest |
OF the ceremonies.
The bride was very attractive, but II |
was an impossibility to attempt TO de-
scribe how she was dressed and as 10