Arizona republican., 1908-04-19
Before Wtite Men Game.

Bcfore WFite men Odnc.-
 IL iS believed that the region was de
 serted bv it's inhabitants long before the middle of the sixteenth century when the gold-seelling expedition of Coronado and his adventures passed by these ancient caves and pueblos. Many generations afterwards rowing bands of Apaches secured the territory
 probably keeping away many possible settlers. and in fact it was not until 1886. twenty-tWo years. that these rcn- egade tribes were pacified through through the establishment of military posts.
 II is not known that the traditions or myths of any of the surviving Pu- eblos Indians refer to these early peo- Die. From a comparison of their arts
 with those of later tribes. it seems likely from data al hand, that they were distinct from any of their neigh
 bors and sprang from an original local
 source.
 What Became Of the People? l. is also a matter of conjecture as
 to what became Of all the people whose villages are so numerous. The climate is generally healthy except for occa- sional levers that are not serious. EX- plCration ot the ruins. sO far as this has been accomplished. shows that the pueblOs were not abandoned on account Of internal warfare or attacks from outside enemies. There is req son to believe that failures of food supply were less prevalent in early times than since occup S1ey by white . factor in the decline in population in certain localities. The most potent cause. however. is believed to have eX- isted in the social organization of the people. which in that isolated country may have prohibited marriage within the clan. as is the case among the eX- isting Pueblo tribes.
 In several pueblos on the San Fran 1 cisco river. a branch of the Gila, there wac silent evidence of the gradual de cline of the race. The exploring party examined the cemetery which was built as usual outside the walls of the pueblo village. Going into the pueblo. 1 they came upon other burals in inner rooms. shown to nave been made at a | later time bv the lack of offerings of . s dead. Still farther in. other rooms. the need of them gone. had evidently been given over to sheltering the departed members of the clan. We have here. '' says Dr. Hough, what seems to be i the life history of this pueblo from its i. continuation to it's extinction. the grad ually enlarging zone Of room burials being an index of the decrease of the inhabitants The evidence invariably i shows that no sudden cataclysm over whelmed the pueblos. no nasty. disor- ganized abandonment took place. no wars decimated them. but rather that, l like tree, they passed through the ] successive stages of growth. decline and decay to final eXtiDction. 1 As to the nature of these peoples. 1 there may well have been in the whole region of the Gila and Salt rivers sev- ] erai tribes distinct in language and arts. Rowing clans crossed the terri
 tory. local populations inhabited all
 most inaccessible valleys. and there
 were displacements of one tribe by another. Very generally, however. the
 arts of all are enough alike to be
 placed in one class. What differences ' there were m their manners of liIng ! were naturally determined by the elevation, and the varied mineral veg | tal and animal resources.
 Their Resources.
 ] They all had at hand many different 1 kinds of stones with which to build 1 their houses. heavy volcanic rocks for | the walls. strong creamywhite stone | for floors, lintels. ana fire boxes. many minerals suitable for axes and other i implements. clays for pottery. pigments , for it's decoration and materials for
 painting ceremonial p9raphernalia and 1 decoration and. materials for painting ceremonial paraphernalia and weapons