Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-03-02
ACEQUlA DANCE,
The lsleta Pueblo Indians Celebrated
Yesterday.
MARRIAGE or GOVERNORS DAUGHTER,

The Indian pueblo of Isleta was the
scene of one of the gayest events oil
the s yesterday. Yet at the same
time the ceremonies connected with
the celebration we're impressive n
solemn.
The aceduia OF rain dance is a most
sacred occasion to the lsleta Indians,
and 10 a Caucasian IL 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, a huge rectangular ter
raced pile cleaning white in the sun
the peaks of the numerous rough lad
ders showing in sharp relief.
A Citizen reporter, always eager n
making special efforts to learn more
of the Indian and his customs, PAID
the Indian pueblo a visit yesterday. lie
was not unaccompanied in his OBJECT
of sightseeing, for many guests OF the
Alyarado, desiring to get a glimpse
Oh an lnIldh udl1t.
to Isleta in the afternoon. When the
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 thai disturbing factor, the railroad,
does not affect the profound inertia OF
his type.
Quietness reigned over b reserva-
ton; here and there an Indian, made
picturesque by his bright colored
blanket. could be seen passing between
the adobes, or sitting like a statue on
the top of his home. 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 a spot OF
activity. By accident he peered into
a corral and discovered some young
bucks loading chairs and tables into a
wagon. There was no time lost In In
uuiring the occasion of their labors.
Inquisitiveness and
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 lsleta.
The elaborate feast in which nearly all
the Indians participated was the cele-
bration of the marriage of the gov
ernor's daughter. Maria Teresa, Abeita,
to Juan Bautista Sangre, a worthy In
dian Of the Isleta. The wedding cere'
mony had commenced at the ole
church, being performed by the priest
and was resumed at the home of the
bride, continuing until the middle OF
the afternoon. Nothing is too good for
a reporter, so consequently entrance
was gained into the home ceremony
by means of nerve. OF course the pro-
ceedings were mo sabe," but it was
most impressive. Before the priest
kneeled the bride and groom, while he
went through a lingo that was musical
to the ears; all around the white, clean
walls, adorned with pictures of the
Christ, were seated old men ant
m Many of them were the oldest
inhabitants of the pueblo, whose face:
were wrinkled, time-worn, element
SCARED, bearing the mute evidence t.
the years of toll that has accompanied
their life. The most surprising thinl
brought to notice was the c~leannesi
H. I,,-A L. thA
ter of the room stood a large table
filed with pitchers OF the native grape
wine, which was a part of the cere
mony. Just at point when the scene 81
fascinating and dramatic had reached
its highest point, the reporter and hi
friends were ordered to get out as the.
were not wanted. But a newspape
man knows no defeat, so hunting up al
Indian who understood English, he was
told that the governors son, Pasqua.
Abeita, whom the reporter was on a
speaking acquaintance, was wanted
as he had been educated at the Santa
Fe Indian school, the situation was
oon explained and the inquisitive
newspaper man n his friends were
allowed to enter and witness the rest
of the ceremonies.
The bride was very attractive, but l
was an impossibility to attempt to de
scribe how she was dressed and as Il
what kind of a ceremony it was-well
that was altogether out of the regula
vocabulary. The Indians showed thei
friendly guests the greatest hospitalit,
and the wine made by the Isletas wa
greatly relished. One is filled with
certain mystery and I'VE on entering
an Indian home, which renders the as
ISOLATION more interesting and fasci1
ating. The old Indians, seated on tn
narrow seats around the walls, chatte,
pleasantly among themselves Will
their guests sat quietly by and locke,
on. Who and what were these me-
whose appearance often deceive on