The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1911-07-13

o"O" OF mesa rs Harc to heacF
Cathedral Still Standing, and An
Gent Sports Are Held Annually.
Acoma, an Indian village in New
Mexico, has the distinction Of bein:
the oldest inhabited settlement in tn,
United States. st. Augustine, the
first permanent European settlement
planted within the limits Of the Unit
ed States, was founded in 1865.
AcOma was mentioned as early as
1919 by Fra Marco Ill MIA and was
visited by members Of Coronado's ar.
my in the following year, twenty-five
years before st. Augustine's period of
foundation. Early Spanish chroni-
ciers have designated its population
at that period as high as 5000.
Every traveller of greater or less de-
gree traversing the southwest has
heard Of this the most wonderful
aboriginal city on earth, cliff built,
cloud swept, matchless." 1t is built
on great oblong rocky pedestal ris-
ing nearly 400 feet above the plain.
The Indians built this pueblo evil
IDENTITY with the intention Of resisting
the attacks Of the Navatos and
Apaches, who for many years made
war upon this peaceful people. In
1910 Coronado and his band Of con
quistadOrs found this little village so
impregnable that it was only after
long siege that he was able to accom-
plish its capture.
Town In Terraces.
The village proper consists Of three
parallel rows Of adobe houses. three
stories, terraced in form and about for
" feet high, nearly a hundred IN all.
In these dwellings lives a population
Of about GOO people. Entrance 20 the
houses IS made by ladders over the
roof, passing through passagewavs TO
the lower floor or into the second ter
race by doors or up to the third ter
race again by ladders.
1t is said that the senior members Of
the family live in the first story: the
daughter first married gets the second
terrace and the second the third ter
race. All other members have TO go
or live with the old people.
The most conspicuous and interest
ing building in the pueblo is the an
cient adobe cathedral. which stands
near the edge on the east side Of the
mesa. In this church a priest now
holds services occasionally. The church
is said to be several hundred years
some time in the year 1900 4
and until in recent years the tribe bur /
led their dead under its floor Now I
they use the court in front OF the :
church for that purpose.
The building IS of Spanish mission .
style, with two large towers facing the
front, each of which contains a mas
'ive Spanish bell These bells upon
lose inspection proved 10 be retained
n place by numerous buckskin thongs.
N this church hang many paintings.
me of which has caused bloOdshed and
trife. Its possession IS believed by
he Indians to insure good fortune and
plentiful crops, so It is naturally covet-
d by other tribes Several times it
las been captured by the Laguna In
ians and was recovered by the AGO
mas only after a bitter struggle.
Saints Image Guards Sports.
The two streets Of rock meet in q
ort of court, where all fiestas and
ribal ceremonies take place. The
lain dance, which takes place early
! September, is preceded by services
/ the church. Afterward the wooden
- yhA s,,fp ~ /
our braves, is carried in front Of the
ne of parade from the church TO the
ancing ground, where it is carefully
ut under guard until the dance is ,,
yer, which is at shutdown. Two sets
dancers grotesquely attired, male
nd female, dance alternately all day,
the same time singing an extending
Ianks to the Good Being for their
ops and prosperity and asking that
e coming year be favored with plen-
of rain and good crops.
During the day fruits, melons and :
her edibles are distributed freely to !
| who are present. Inside tenn :,
rary Enclosure Of cornstalks and u
cen branches is placed the sacred
int" At the entrance TO this hut )
70 Indians with loaded rifles stand
ard. During the parade from the c
! church 10 the plaza where the
nee takes place there is a continu-
$ firing of guns and revolvers, said OF
be for the purpose of frightening m
-ay evil spirits. a
)ne of the events of this day of cere- 81
mics is a queer race by two sets II
runners chosen from two factions In
the tribe The Acoma Indians. like =
, HopiS, are known for their endur- NJ
&c and tleetneSs of foot These 81
,es are usually from a distance of pl
IN ten to twenty-five miles, and M
time is to be wondered at when is
, remembers that each set Of run 1t
s have to keep ahead of them pa
,rt stick. ~
hey are not allowed to touch the
* with their hands. They must lal
their feet only. taking it forward as
they run by continually kicking It gr
h their toes. Each stick is about su
&c and a half inches long and one W.
h wide and is so decorated that !