Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-21
PALESTINE AND
THE pUEBl.OS

Writing TO the Chicago Record.
Herald from L.aguna, William T. Cur.
lis Is struck with the resemblance be-
tween the Pueblo and his environs
and mode Of life to Palestine and the
inhabitants thereof. He SAYS in part:
About seventy miles west from Al.
buQuerque on the old Atlantic and Pa
cific railroad. now the California line
or the Santa Fe system. is the station
OF Laguna where travellers NAV stop
over one or two DAYS, and get a good
idea of the Pueblo Indians. the most
striking figures in American ethnology
and n Of the most interesting peo-
pies in the world, whether vou indge
them physically or mentally. They
are very different from the northern
nomadic tribes: thev will remind YOU
OF the Egyptians and the Syrians by
many striking resemblances. Thera
is morning In all the rest of the world
so like Palestine in the Topography
the atmosphere, the appearance of the
people. their methods Of agriculture
and their habits of life as the Pueblos
O. New Mexico and Arizona. Even
the blankets they weave and the
decorations on their pottery: the way
they nlow and plant the ground. con.
s'antlv remind YOU of Nazareth and
Bethlehem, and the towns of Samaria.
All desert countries are alike. the
same environment develops the same
characters and Customs; and while
there is nc relationship between Pales.
tine and New Mexico, the atmosphere,
the climate, the soil. the rocks. tie
sand. the rainless skies. the Scarcity
of water and the same necessities call
for the same provisions and range.
ments. Similar r%esemblances may be
found among the desert tribes Of South
America and for similar reasons
Ethnologists and ar~chaelogists who
have studied the communities Of the
Asian, African and American deserts
denv all relationship or prehistoric
communication between the jewellers
in the sand. and attribute the resem'
blance In their customs and condi
tons to the fact that they have had
the same obstacles to overcome and
the same. necessities to provide for.
The atmosphere and the loneliness
of the desert promote contemplation
and develop the serious side of char
acter. There is little humor in rain
less lands. It is difficult to Joke o.
think of anything funny in a country
without water. Such conditions en-
courage introspection and reflection
and develop patience. conservatism
self confidence and self control, which
are the characteristics Of the Pueblo
Indians, like all desert races Thu
Pueblo system Of government nigh
have been modelled on the Mosai,
plan. Their laws might have beer
taken from the book OF Leviticus. 1
is a singular fact that all religion!
originated in deserts and we're though
out in the midst OF burning sands.
The Pueblo has two Relationship
is first a pagan with all kinds of god.
and a theology similar to that OF thu
ancient Phoecicians; and has accepted
the doctrines OF the Roman Catholi,
church and has been baptized in tina
communion for several generations
Nor do his two religions interfere
THEY blend in a most extraordinar!
manner. The closest resemblance be
tween New Mexico and the holy lant
is found in their ancient methods o
irrigation, which YER in use here
when the S%paniards came in 1910, ant
are stif1 almost a duplicate OF those
found In Galilee, Samaria and around
Damascus