The Daily Missoulian., 1912-11-10

Has the original American suffra-
gette been found? Some people think
so and that her home is in those
strange Indian pueblos of our south
west where the children inherit from
the mothers side of the house and
where the women are handsome, finely
developed and WELD, a powerful influ-
ence in home and village affairs. AS
far back as the coming of the Span
iards these strangers found the wom
en- of the Indian tribes of Arizona and
New Mexico having a voice in the cleo
ton of war chiefs, governors and
other village officials and it is still
the custom Another queer thing
about these intelligent women is that
in some mysterious way their ances-
tors have had intercourse with the
women of the orient. The pueblo Wom-
en- use the same symbols on their
pottery that are found in the decora-
tions of orientalists. How this hap
pens no one knows for the Indians of
the southwest are silent, mysterious
creatures, but one can guess that at
some time intercourse took place by
way of Bering straits. These pueblo
Indians are of interest since the
IASdLy ~ NIuASNalupC 1110o'6C IA Ao1o
1t is a remarkable fact that these
Indians have for hundreds of years
maintained their own form of govern
ment, electing a governor war chief
and assistants and putting to shame
the laWlessness of the white man in the
early days Of the settlement of the
southwest. More than this and stand
ing out prominently as feature in
70
had suffrage. In every particular the
domestic life is in the hands of the
women. They are consulted on all af-
fairs of state. have a voice in ques-
tions pertaining to the pueblo's governs
ment and the children inherit from the
maternal side. AS a result they are
of magnificent physique. They have
the grace of the orientals, but also have
what many oriental women lack, the
dignity that springs from self-respect.
One is instantly impressed with their
nobility of countenance and fine pres
ence.
There are several of these interest
ing pueblos not far from Albuquer-
que. One of them-Acoma, the City
of the Sky'-is probably the most re-
markable place in the United States. 1t
derives its peculiar name from it's
high location and must be reached
from Iaguna, another interesting
Indian pueblo. Long before civilized
woman began to assert her indie
pendence the women of these villages
welded a powerful influence in all
public questions. Today, Acoma has
about SO inhabitants and it takes a
ride of few hours to reach it-a. Won
derful ride over a trail situated on a
pateau which descends to a plain. On
the edge. 1000 feet above the sea lev
ell, rock eminence rises some $50 feet.
Perched aloft on this is "the most
wonderful aboriginal city on earth,
cliff built, cloud-swept, matchelss."
Formerly this pueblo was reached
onlt. by an almost perpendicular stair
way up which the Inhabitants toiled
carryinE their building material on
their backs. The present approach is
around the side of a precipitous table
rock. From ages back this pueblo OF
Acoma has occupied this exalted posi-
ton. One can picture the astonish-
ment of Coronado and his men when
they saw it and their chagrin when il
repulsed attacks. Those We're stren-
uous times, especially as the inhabi-
tants were constantly trying to ware
off the wandering Navajos, but at last