Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-28
OLDEST TOWN IN THE COUNTRY
Strange Pueblo Of Aeoma Mentioned
In 1889 BY Spaniards.

AcOma, an lnQlan village, mas the
distinction Of being the oldest inhab-
tied settlement in the United States,
says the Red Man. st. Augustine, the
first permanent European settlement
planted within the limits Of the United
States, was founded in 1865.
Acoma was mentioned as early as
1889 by Fray Marcos de Mia and was
visited by members of Coronado's
army in the following year, twenty
five years before st. Augustines pc
riod of foundation. Early Spanish
chroniclers have designated its popu-
lation 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 rising
nearly 400 feet above the plain.
The Indians built this pueblo evil
IDENTIFY with the intention of resisting
the attacks of the Navajos and
Apaches, who for many years made
war upon this peaceful people. In
154O Coronado and his band of con-
quistadors found this little village so
impregnable that it was only after a
long siege that he was able to accom-
plish it's capture.
The top Of the mesa is said to con-
tain about a hundred and fifty acres.
1t is only accessible by three circuitous
trails, over which, on the backs Of
these people, had to be brought. from
the plains below every bit of material
used in the construction Of the dwell
ings and church, besides all food, fuel
and other articles necessary to their
livelihood. One Of these trails has re-
Gently been enlarged, so that material
now may be brought up in a round
about route on the backs of burros,
with which the tribe seems plentifully
supplied.
The village proper consists of three
parallele rows Of adobe houses. three
story, terraced in form and about forty
feet high, nearly a hundred in all.
In these dwellings lives a population
of about 600 people. Entrance to the
houses Is made by ladders over the
roof, passing through passageways to
the lower floor or into the second ter
race by doors, or up to the third ter
race again by ladders. -
It 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 tofseek
quarters elsewhere 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 service occasionally. The church
Is said to be several hundred years
old-built some time in the year 1900
and until in recent years the tribe
buried their dead under it's floor. Now
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 mas
sive Spanish bell. These bells, upon
close inspection, proved to be retained
in place by numerous buckskin thongs.
In this church hang many paintings,
one Of which has caused bloodshed and
strife. It's possession is believed by
the Indians to insure good fortune and
plentiful crops, so it is naturally COW
eted by other tribes. Several times it
has been captured by the Laguna In
dians, and was recovered by the
Acomas only after a bitter struggle.
The two streets of rock meet in a
sort Of court. where all fiestas and tri-
bal ceremonies take place. The main
dance, which takes place early in Sep
tember, is preceded by services in the
church. Afterward the wooden image
of the Sacred Saint" borne by four
braves, is carried in front of the line
of parade from the church to the dane
ing ground, where 1t is carefully put
under guard until the dance is over,
which is at sundown. Two sets Of
dancers grotesquely attired, male and
female, dance alternately all day, at
the same time singing and extending
thanks to the Good Being for their
crops and prosperity and asking that
the coming year be favored with plen-
ty of rain and good crops.
During the day fruits, melons and
other edibles are distributed freely to
all who are present. Inside a tenn
porary enclosure of cornstalks and
green branches is placed the Sacred
Saint" At the entrance to this hut
two Indians with loaded rifles stand
guard. During the parade from the
old church to the plaza where the
dance takes place there Is continuous
firing of guns and revolvers, said to be
for the purpose of frightening away
evil spirits.
One of the events of this day of cere-
monies is ten mile run by two sets Of
runners chosen from two factions Of
the tribe. The Acoma Indians, like the
Hopis, are known for their endurance
and feetness of foot. These races are
usually from a distance of from ten to
twenty-five miles, and the time made
is to be wondered at when one remem-
bers that each set of runners have to
keep ahead of them a short stick.
They are not allowed to touch the
stick with their hands; they must use
their feet only, taking it forward as
they run by continually kicking it
with their toes. Each stick is about
81 inches long, and l inch wide and is
so decorated that each party can cas-
lily tell the one belonging to it.
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