Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1905-10-21
FOUNDING OF
TAOS PUEBLO
Related by c. J. Cranda|| From
the Story as Told by the
Indians
EAGLE OF M0NTEZUMA
Discloses to Bah-tah-ho, the Cacique,
Coming Of a Pesti|ence and Guides
the People to New Home.

In the Indian School Journal fol
september, published at the ChiloccC
indian School at Chilocco, Indian Tu.
rltory, Superintendent Clinton j. Gran
dali, OF the U. S. Indian Training
School OF this city, has an article up.
on the history of the founding of the
Pueblo Of Taos, Taos County, which is
herewith published:
EARLY tradition informs us that the
Pueblos OF Taos once lived to the
northwest OF the present pueblo. That
long ago, before the advent of the
White man, an epidemic or pestience
broke out among them, which carried
OIL more than one-half their number
The site of this old pueblo is not now
known, and can only be conjectured
but from the best information and the
indian traditions, it would seem to
have been in northwestern New Mexico
or southern Colorado or Utah. Among
those that fell a prey to this deadly
pestience was the cacique. The elec.
ton OF a successor to the cacique be-
came an important factor in the pueblo
affairs, as without cacique, the pueb-
10 could not hope to exist as a unit,
and would soon become extinct, or
merged into some other pueblo. The
pueblos at this early date lad not
become mergers, only by necessity,
and 1t was unanimously decided to
elect a cacique by vote of the coun-
Gil, composed of the living princi-
palies. Many juntas had been held
in the estufa, but without results. The
caciques immediate family had all
died OF the plague and it was found
necessary to elect his successor from
the council or common people. Such
thing had never occurred in the his
tory of the pueblo, and it is no
strange that the council should diffel
and hosii ste to make the selection.
hive of bees cannot long exist withou
its queen, and an Indian pueblo coulC
no more continue its form of govern
ment without it's cacique.
One day, as the council composed 0
the principalies entered the under
ground estufa, boy known as Bah
tah-ko, lad of about twelve years o
age, and known in the pueblo as {
sort of Simple Simon, entered also
tho the rule of the pueblo prohibited
any from entering this sacred cham
Der on important occasions like this
under no less a penalty than death
He took his seat in the council as tho
he had a perfect right, and seemed tc
consider himself one of the council.
History Of Bah-tah-ko.
The history of Bah-tah-ko was wei
known to all in the pueblo. His mo
ther, Ah-za-za, when a maiden of per
haps sixteen summers, was sent one
day to the pinon forest to gather herbs
to be used in dyeing feather robes.
After her task was finished she beca
me weary and sat under pinon tree
to rest, where she fell asleep. Wher
she awoke her lap was filled witt
pinon nuts and they were all about hel
on the ground. In the course Of time
she gave birth to son, who was cal
led Bah-tah-ko. He was always
strange child from his infancy, AM
grew up uninstructed, as he had M
father He wa Stunned by othe,
children, had no playmates, and out
side of his mother, Ah-za-za, had n,
friends in the pueblo. He often, as h
grew older, would wander into the fo
rest where he would remain who'll
days. He had been heard talking Il
himself in strange language; he ha'
been seen with wild animals and bird
which seemed to like rather than fea
him. 1t was said that he had oftel
been seen in company with a larg
silver tip bear, and had bee. ear
conversing with this common enem!
These and many other stories 1ver
told of Bah-tah-ko. He had escape
the plague, in fact had not been i'll, tn
all the others had been at dea tn
door. Ah-za-za had with others bee
gathered to the happy trysting grou.n
where the Navajo could not enter, an
where the corn is supposed tt, col
tinually ripen.
He Is Unanimously Proclaimed
Cacioue.
When the council had asse mble(
sitting in a semi-circle facing the alta
of Montezuma, it was discovered tha
Bah-tah-ko had taken promdinen
seat. One of the principalies, whethe
in jest or otherwise, nominated Bal
tah-ko for cacique. The council a.
sented in the nomination, possibl
more in spirit of levity than in ca rnes
when Bah-tah-ko rose and addlesse
| the council in words of wisdom, an
informing them that he had known
this mission for many days, whi ch hs
been revealed to him by an eagle, an
was supposed to be the same Gag
|